Local MP says last six weeks under Liz Truss have been "awful" and re-commits to backing Sunak for leader

Totnes and South Devon MP Anthony Mangnall has said the "last six weeks have been awful" in a statement released after Prime Minister Liz Truss resigned after 45 days in office. 

In a statement released on his social media, Anthony Mangnall MP, has said that Liz Truss' premiership has been awful for "the country, for the party and for nearly every hardworking constituency MP". 

He said Truss went "too far, too fast" and it is "absolutely right that she has now resigned".

Liz Truss has thrown the country back into uncertainty after resigning 45 days after becoming Prime Minister amid chaotic scenes in Parliament. 

MPs alleged that they had been told that a vote, on a Labour motion to formally ban shale drilling in the UK - a Conservative manifesto promise - had turned into a defacto confidence vote of the Government and if they voted for the motion they would lose the Conservative whip. 

Scenes of MPs shouting, arguing and physically manhandling wavering colleagues through the division doors came to light and MPs called for an investigation. 

Mr Mangnall MP voted against the ban on fracking. 

His statement said: "I became an MP to deliver for the residents of Totnes and South Devon. This special place is one that I have known and loved all my life and in my time as its MP I have been determined to get the very best for whole community.

"I am not a tribal politician but one who believes that if you get it right locally you can get it right nationally. Since being elected in 2019 I have helped create roundtable support groups, improved digital connectivity, created a new national charity, worked on thousands of pieces of casework, held hundreds of surgeries and attend many, many events and even successfully campaigned for VAT to be lowered to 5% for the tourism and hospitality sectors during the pandemic.

"My passion and drive have been to deliver for the people of South Devon. Unfortunately, the past few weeks have been an enormous distraction.

"As before, I hope the new Prime Minister will be Rishi Sunak and that we will be able to deliver on the message he so well-articulated during the summer campaign. However, I will offer my full support to whoever is elected.

"Nothing in this job is easy, but it is an honour to do it and I remain completely committed to being a strong local voice for the good people of Totnes and South Devon."