Politicians from across Greater Manchester reacted this afternoon after Liz Truss finally resigned as prime minister, ending 44 days of chaotic leadership in 10 Downing Street.
Labour representatives and their supporters immediately demanded a general election rather than yet another Tory leadership campaign to decide the new premiere.
Politicians or not, many reacted with a mixture of relief and anger - often liberally decorated with swear words. Like people across the country, Mancs expressed grim delight that 'the lettuce won'.
The Star newspaper, which has famously pitting a decaying Tesco lettuce against Truss to see which would last longest, was able to crown its lettuce, which was still looking fairly green and pristine, as the winner. On its live YouTube channel, the lettuce looked in pretty good condition while the national anthem and then a version of Kool and the Gang's hit Celebration were played moments after the announcement.
READ MORE: LIVE: Liz Truss resigns as Prime Minister - latest updates
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham simply tweeted: "We can’t go on like this. #GeneralElectionNow."
Former Manchester United player turned pundit Gary Neville, who recently became a Labour party member, tweeted: "General F***ing Election Now."
Ashton-under-Lyne MP Angela Rayner tweeted: "Britain now faces a clear and unavoidable choice - stability and strong Government with Labour, or yet more chaos with the Tories."
Manchester Central MP Lucy Powell posted: "Meanwhile in the real world, the costs for ordinary people continue to soar."
Labour MP for Oldham West and Royton Jim McMahon tweeted in capitals: "GENERAL ELECTION NOW."
Trafford Labour councillor Mike Freeman, a former senior GMP officer, tweeted: "What we will now see is the sheer #arrogance of the @Conservatives shine through in that they really believe they have a mandate to insert another #PM and another #Govt. They have #noshame.
" #GEnow "
Manchester Labour tweeted: "The Tories have let Manchester and our country down. Another Tory PM won't make a difference. We need a #GeneralElectionNow."
In a video address, Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig said: "So the prime minister has resigned, the sixth prime minister in five years. After twelve years of Tory chaos, the time has come. We need change in this country. Ordinary Mancunians are suffering because of the direct decisions this government has made. They've crashed the economy. They cut services to our city. And they've made lives in this country worse. We need a fresh start in this country. We need a Labour government.
"The Conservative party has shown that they cannot and they will not lead. So as a country we must not let them lead. We need a general election now because the country's in crisis. For lives to be made better here in Manchester we need a Labour government.
"That's why I'm joining the calls for a general election now."
Non-politicians also reacted to the news.
Manchester journalist Jo Lake tweeted "#SmashedItLiz' before adding a dictionary definitions of ignominy: "Deep personal humiliation and disgrace; disgraceful or dishonourable conduct, quality or action."
Former broadcaster James H Reeve, from Prestwich, posted: "A quitter after all, then. Truss's final Thatcher impression. And, like Johnson, she almost made it sound as if she'd done quite a good job."
Campaigner Figen Murray, whose son Martyn died in the Manchester Arena terror attack, tweeted: "Sad to see the prime minister stepping down. Waiting to see what happens next. It means that the #MartynsLaw #ProtectDuty will go down in importance. But make no mistake, it is very high on my agenda & I will continue working on it until it is done."
Read today's top stories here.
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