Liz Truss succeeded Boris Johnson as prime minister on 6 September after defeating Rishi Sunak in the Conservative Party leadership contest and meeting the Queen at Balmoral.

Liz Truss has resigned as prime minister just 44 days after taking over from Boris Johnson.

She will be the shortest-serving PM in British history.

A new Conservative leader, who will get the keys to Number 10, is set to be elected next Friday.

In a statement read outside Downing Street, Ms. Truss admitted she could not deliver her mandate.

She said: "I came into office at a time of great economic and international instability.

"Families and businesses were worried about how to pay their bills."

She said she was elected "with a mandate to change this", adding: "We delivered on energy bills."

"I recognize, though, given the situation, I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected by the Conservative Party," she added.

"I have therefore spoken to His Majesty the King to notify him that I am resigning as leader of the Conservative Party.

"This morning, I met the chairman of the 1922 committee, Sir Graham Brady. We've agreed that there will be a leadership election to be completed within the next week."

Ms. Truss will remain as prime minister until her successor has been chosen.