Christian MP joins calls for general election after PM's resignation

Christian MP Tim Farron has added his voice to calls for a general election after the resignation of Liz Truss on Thursday.

Farron, who is the Lib Dem MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, wrote on Twitter that the Conservative government is a "charade" and that the people should "get their say".

"Our country deserves and desperately needs a government that is competent and compassionate - it is clear that the Conservatives are neither," he said. 

"This charade is only set to continue unless the people get their say in the form of a general election."

Janet Daby, Labour MP for Lewisham and a Catholic, made a similar call on Twitter, saying that "the Conservatives are creating chaos" and that the Labour Party is "a government in waiting". 

"We have a bold vision to help millions of hard working families. The Tories have proved they cannot handle the nation's finances," she said. 

Calls for a general election have also come from Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer as well as the Lib Dems and the SNP.

Despite the calls, the Tories are pushing ahead with another leadership contest. Candidates must gather 100 backers by Monday to move ahead in the race before a vote next week. 

Truss' successor is to be confirmed by Friday at the latest. 

Rishi Sunak, Penny Mordaunt and former prime minister Boris Johnson, who was ousted from power just six weeks ago, are reportedly in the lead. 

News
Richard Moth appointed as new Archbishop of Westminster
Richard Moth appointed as new Archbishop of Westminster

Bishop Richard Moth has been confirmed as the new Archbishop of Westminster, the most senior post in the Catholic Church in England and Wales. 

The mystery of the Wise Men
The mystery of the Wise Men

The carol assures us that “We three kings of Orient are…” and tells us they were “following yonder star”. Can we be sure there were three of them? Were they kings? Where in the Orient were they from? What was the star they followed? In fact, there is a lot that we just do not know. This is the story …

English Heritage deletes debunked claims about pagan origins of Christmas Day
English Heritage deletes debunked claims about pagan origins of Christmas Day

English Heritage has admitted it got it wrong when it shared false claims that the date of Christmas is derived from a pagan Roman festival in honour of a sun god.

Guinness Book of Records recognises 'the world’s longest serving Sunday School teacher'
Guinness Book of Records recognises 'the world’s longest serving Sunday School teacher'

Pam Knowles started helping out her church Sunday school in 1951 at the age of 13.