Twitter erupts after Truss resignation

British politics are literally never boring.

British Prime Minister Liz Truss announced on Thursday morning that she is resigning after just six weeks in office (!)

Um, why?: Truss implemented controversial tax cuts that sent the British economy into turmoil and chaos. The U.K. finance minister quickly reversed Truss’s policy earlier this week to stop the bleed. CNBC’s explanation of the economic policy and resulting chaos 

Truss said in a statement: “I recognize though that given the situation, I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected by the Conservative Party. I have therefore spoken to His Majesty The King to notify him that I am resigning as leader of the Conservative Party.”

Watch Truss announce her resignation outside of 10 Downing Street 

What happens now?: Truss said a leadership election will determine the next prime minister within the week.

Boris peers out from behind a curtain: The New York Times has a list of potential replacements for Truss. “Some analysts have even speculated that Boris Johnson, who resigned as prime minister in the summer, could make a return.”

The value of the pound increased with the news: Details from BBC 

Tidbit — did she set a record for the shortest-serving prime minister?: Yes! “The previous record-holder for shortest-serving prime minister was George Canning, who lasted 119 days. He started on April 12, 1827 and died on Aug. 8, 1827.” More from The Washington Post 

How’s her favorability doing?: YouGov tweeted on Tuesday, “Liz Truss’s net favourability rating has fallen to -70. Favourable: 10% (-5 from 11-12 Oct) Unfavourable: 80% (+9)” Graph of her net favorability since 2020

It’s Thursday. I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here.

My favorite reaction to the news: Former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci, who famously left after 11 days on the job, tweeted: “Liz Truss lasted 4.1 Scaramuccis.”

Why are there so many lettuce references?: A British newspaper has been livestreaming a head of lettuce since Oct. 14 with the caption, “Will Liz Truss outlast this lettuce?” Here’s the livestream if you don’t believe me 

Yes, there are now disco lights surrounding the head the lettuce. 

^ How the lettuce bit started: “The lettuce gag was inspired by The Economist, which noted on Oct. 11 that between a near-immediate political implosion at the beginning of her tenure and the 10 days of mourning after Queen Elizabeth II died, her grip on power amounted to seven days, or ‘roughly the shelf-life of a lettuce.’” NYT explainer of the lettuce joke 

OK, this is funny and timely: @ErikTruong_ added a “Spirit Halloween” banner over 10 Downing Street. Photo 

The airline, Ryanair, tweeted a fake boarding pass for Truss: Screenshot 

Fun fact: Grid News’s Matthew Zeitlin pointed out that “Between 1979 and 2007, the UK had three prime ministers. They’ll have three this year.”

Semafor’s David Weigel chimed in to point out: “Truss is the first [prime minister] to serve two monarchs since Winston Churchill. Fun year for trivia, if nothing else.”

In the midst of British prime minister news this morning, Netflix released a trailer for Season 5 of “The Crown.” Watch 

‘The Crown Steps Into the Revenge-Dress Era’: From Vulture 

ITV’s Chris Ship added his perspective: “Netflix still refuses to put a ‘fictional drama’ disclaimer before each episode despite scenes which are completely made up. A point Sir John Major & Dame Judi Dench have already raised.”