UK Edition
Sir Keir Starmer called for an immediate general election on Thursday, arguing that the Tories had hit “a chaotic new low” and he is ready for power.
The Labour leader said he had a manifesto ready for any upcoming campaign and had moved his shadow ministers “on to a general election footing”.
He said the Conservatives “lack the basic patriotic duty to keep the British people out of their own pathetic squabbles” after the Prime Minister quit.
"The risk at the moment is continuing with this chaos, not having a stable Labour government. That's why there needs to be a general election,” he added.
"We can't just allow the Tory party to keep putting up the next candidate in the middle of this chaos. The British people deserve so much better than this revolving door of chaos.
“They do not have a mandate to put the country through yet another experiment. Britain is not their personal fiefdom to run how they wish.
"We are ready to form a government, to stabilise the economy and implement a real plan for growth, for living standards, to help people through a cost-of-living crisis.”
Boris return 'would be insult'
Sir Keir said the prospect of Boris Johnson returning would “add insult to injury for the public” given he had been “deemed to be unfit for office” by his own MPs.
"Let's remember that it was three months ago pretty much that he resigned in disgrace," he said. "I share the view that he was unfit for office."
In a speech to the Trades Union Congress, Sir Keir said getting rid of Ms Truss would not undo the economic “damage” she had caused.
He also pledged to repeal any anti-strikes legislation the Tories pass between now and the next general election if he wins power.
“Never again can Britain take seriously their claim to be a party of aspiration or sound money," he told delegates in Brighton.
“They lack the basic patriotic duty to keep the British people out of their own pathetic squabbles and it’s wrecked the finances of the country and for millions of people.
“This cannot continue. Britain deserves better. Britain cannot afford the chaos of the Conservatives any more.”
Sir Keir said the Tories had “crashed the British economy” with plans for unfunded tax cuts to “show they were on the side of the richest one per cent”.
He added: “Everything else follows from this and Britain knows exactly where the Tories stand.
“They can dance around and U-turn, they can sack this Chancellor or the Prime Minister, but the damage is done and they did it.”
In a speech that was met with polite applause he vowed to oppose any spending cuts brought forward to balance the books.
He also said Labour would work with Tory rebels who were opposed to raising benefits by less than the rate of inflation to defeat the plan in parliament.
Sir Christopher Chope, a veteran Conservative MP, openly called for an election himself saying the party had shown it was “ungovernable”.
But Paul Scully, a levelling up minister, said Britain did not have a “presidential system” and changing prime minister did not mean there had to be a fresh ballot.
"Of course Labour want a general election but what you will find is that when the [Conservative] party get their strong leader, eventually things will turn to what Labour have to offer,” he said.
Asked whether the Tories can recover from its 20-point poll deficit and win the next election, he added: "We've certainly got a fight on our hands.”
Nicola Sturgeon later joined Sir Keir in demanding a general election, calling it a "democratic imperative".
The SNP leader tweeted: "There are no words to describe this utter shambles adequately. It's beyond hyperbole and parody. Reality though is that ordinary people are paying the price."
The Scottish First Minister was backed by her Welsh counterpart, Mark Drakeford, who claimed a "complete lack of leadership is preventing decisions and actions from being taken".
The Welsh Labour leader said: "A general election is now the only way to end this paralysis."