Suella Braverman quits and vote chaos add to turmoil for the PM

2 hours ago

Image caption,
Liz Truss survived Prime Minister's Questions relatively unscathed only for events to start unravelling

By Kate Whannel

Political reporter, BBC News

A chaotic day in Parliament has left Liz Truss's survival even more uncertain after the sudden resignation of her home secretary and angry scenes during a fracking vote in the Commons.

Opposition MPs alleged some Tories had been bullied and manhandled into voting with the government on fracking.

A minister denied the claim, but many Tory MPs ended the day feeling angry and let down by their own party.

One Conservative MP Charles Walker said the situation was a "shambles".

Visibly furious, he told the BBC: "I've really not seen anything like tonight", adding that there was "no coming back" for the government.

Later he added: "I expect the prime minister to resign very soon because she's not up to her job."

FRANCE "

Workers around France have walked out to demand better pay amid swirling warnings of a tough winter ahead in Europe. Many on the continent are struggling with record inflation and an energy crisis.

Here’s what to know about the strikes that have snowballed in France:How did the French strikes start?

They began weeks ago with refinery workers who went on strike to demand higher salaries, partly arguing that oil and gas companies have raked in profits from Europe’s soaring energy prices — a trend being driven by Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The strikes led to fuel shortages and lines at stations around France as some pumps ran dry. Nearly a third of the country’s gas stations were out of some type of fuel by Sunday.