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British Prime Minister Liz Truss resigned Thursday after just 44 days in office.

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LONDON — British Prime Minister Liz Truss resigned Thursday, bringing to a close a brief 44-day tenure mired by “mini-budget” chaos, economic turmoil and weeks of political infighting.

Speaking outside Downing Street, Truss said she had delivered her resignation to King Charles after meeting with Graham Brady, the leader of the Conservative Party’s 1922 Committee, earlier Thursday.

“Given the situation, I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected by the Conservative Party,” she said in a brief speech Thursday afternoon.

The prime minister’s departure follows days of high level resignations, and a growing number of Conservative members of parliament (MPs) publicly calling for Truss’ resignation.

Truss said she will remain in place as caretaker prime minister until a successor is named, with a leadership contest expected to take place over the next week.

Here are the main contenders for the top job:

Rishi Sunak

Rishi Sunak, Britain’s former finance minister and Truss’ main opponent in this year’s Conservative Party leadership race, is now seen as a favorite to replace her.

Despite losing to Truss in the final round of voting by Tory members, he was the top choice among party MPs and is considered a safe pair of fiscal hands. Indeed, after being berated by Truss during the race as a voice of Treasury orthodoxy, his critique of the PM’s “unfunded tax cuts” appears to have been vindicated.

Britain’s former finance minister Rishi Sunak was Liz Truss’s main opponent in this year’s Conservative leadership race.

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The 42-year-old, who is credited with steering the U.K. economy through the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, is seen by supporters as well-placed to lead the country through its worsening cost-of-living crisis. However, some have questioned his ability to reunite the splintered Conservative Party, having played a key role in Boris Johnson’s ousting, and being implicated in controversy over his wife’s tax status.

As such, some Conservative backbenchers have proposed that a more politically palatable option would be for Sunak to form a joint ticket with fellow leadership contender Penny Mordaunt, with the pair thought to garner enough support together to secure MP backing without the need for a lengthy members’ vote.

Penny Mordaunt

Former Defense Secretary Penny Mordaunt surged to prominence during the summer’s leadership race, before finishing in third place to Truss and Sunak.

Broadly seen as a consensus candidate, Mordaunt was second to Sunak in MP voting until the final round of the race, and has since maintained links with Tory MPs in her current role as leader of the House of Commons.

Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt is seen as a consensus candidate who could unite a splintered Conservative Party.

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The 49-year-old also escaped largely unscathed from the controversy surrounding Johnson’s departure, and has since demonstrated her leadership prowess in the chaotic early weeks of Truss’ premiership.

On Monday, she spoke to the House of Commons on behalf of Truss regarding the sacking of former Finance Minister Kwasi Kwarteng. But she has also distanced herself from Truss economically, criticizing the PM’s stance on key policies such as welfare benefits.

Boris Johnson

Former prime minister Boris Johnson has been called on by some Tory MPs to return to office, just three months after being ousted.

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Johnson previously enjoyed high levels of popularity until losing credibility in the final months of his premiership amid political scandal around Covid-19 rule-breaking and his links to disgraced MP Chris Pincher.

The 58-year-old has not spoken recently on plans for a second leadership bid, but in his parting speech he alluded to a future return to office with the words: “Hasta la vista, baby” or “see you later.”

Ben Wallace

Jeremy Hunt

Britain’s new Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt, brought in to replace Kwasi Kwarteng, is considered the most powerful figure in government after he came in to overhaul Truss’ economic plan and calm chaotic markets.

The 55-year-old is seen as a stable option, having previously held several senior government positions, including foreign secretary, health secretary and culture secretary. However, he has previously fallen short in a series of leadership bids, and on Thursday reportedly extracted himself from future runs.

On Monday, Hunt hinted that he would not run, telling Sky News: “I rule it out, Mrs Hunt rules it out, three Hunt children rule it out.”

Could there be a General Election?

The Conservative Party will be keen to avoid a calling a General Election ahead of the 2025 deadline, with the latest opinion polls suggesting that the Tories would suffer a landslide defeat.

However, if Conservative MPs can’t reach a consensus vote on a future leader, it is possible that the U.K. would go to the polls.

Opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer on Thursday renewed calls for an immediate General Election, saying the government was too mired in “political squabbles” to lead the country.

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon echoed those calls, calling an election a “democratic imperative.”

According to an Opinium poll released over the weekend, if a general Election were called now, Labour would secure 411 seats to the Conservative’s 137, marking a sizeable defeat not seen since 1997.

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Double your chances in Climate XChange’s 10th Annual EV Raffle!

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Double your chances in Climate XChange's 10th Annual EV Raffle!

Climate XChange’s Annual EV Raffle is back for the 10th year running – and for the first time ever, Climate XChange has two raffle options on the table! The nonprofit has helped lucky winners custom-order their ideal EVs for the past decade. Now you have the chance to kick off your holiday season with a brand new EV for as little as $100.

About half of the raffle tickets have been sold so far for each of the raffles – you can see the live ticket count on Climate XChange’s homepage – so your odds of winning are better than ever.

But don’t wait – raffle ticket sales end on December 8!

Climate XChange is working hard to help states transition to a zero-emissions economy. Every ticket you buy supports this mission while giving you a chance to drive home your dream EV.

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Here’s how Climate XChange’s 10th Annual Raffle works:

Image: Climate XChange

The Luxury Raffle

  • Grand Prize: The winner can choose any EV on the market, fully customized up to $120,000. This year, you can split the prize between two EVs if the total is $120,000 or less.
  • Taxes covered: This raffle comes with no strings – Climate XChange also pays all of the taxes.
  • Runner-up prizes: Even if you don’t win the Grand Prize, you still have a chance at the 2nd prize of $12,500 and the 3rd prize of $7,500.
  • Ticket price: $250.
  • Grand Prize Drawing: December 12, 2025.
  • Only 5,000 tickets will be sold for the Luxury Raffle.

The Mini Raffle (New for 2025)

  • Grand Prize: Choose any EV on the market, fully customized, up to $45,000. This is the perfect raffle if you’re ready to make the switch to an EV but aren’t in the market for a luxury model.
  • Taxes covered: Climate XChange pays all the taxes on the Mini Raffle, too.
  • Ticket price: $100.
  • Only 3,500 tickets will be sold for the Mini Raffle.

Why it’s worth entering

For a decade, Climate XChange has run a raffle that’s fair, transparent, and exciting. Every ticket stub is printed, and the entire drawing is live-streamed, including the loading of the raffle drum. Independent auditors also oversee the process.

Plus, your odds on the Luxury and Mini Raffles are far better than most car raffles, and they’re even better if you enter both.

Remember that only 5,000 tickets will be sold for the Luxury Raffle and only 3,500 for the Mini Raffle, and around half of the available tickets have been sold so far, so don’t miss your shot at your dream EV!

Climate XChange personally works with the winners to help them build and order their dream EVs. The winner of the Ninth Annual EV Raffle built a gorgeous storm blue Rivian R1T.

How to enter

Go to CarbonRaffle.org/Electrek before December 8 to buy your ticket. Start dreaming up your perfect EV – and know that no matter what, you’re helping accelerate the shift to clean energy.

Who is Climate XChange?

Climate XChange (CXC) is a nonpartisan nonprofit working to help states pass effective, equitable climate policies because they’re critical in accelerating the transition to a zero-emissions economy. CXC advances state climate policy through its State Climate Policy Network (SCPN) – a community of more than 15,000 advocates and policymakers – and its State Climate Policy Dashboard, a leading data platform for tracking climate action across the US.

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This fun-vibes Honda Cub lookalike electric scooter is now almost half off

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This fun-vibes Honda Cub lookalike electric scooter is now almost half off

The CSC Monterey – one of the most charming little electric scooters on the US market – has dropped to a shockingly low $1,699, down from its original $2,899 MSRP. That’s nearly half off for a full-size, street-legal electric scooter that channels major Honda Super Cub energy, but without the gas, noise, or maintenance of the original.

CSC Motorcycles, based in Azusa, California, has a long history of importing and supporting small-format electric and gas bikes, but the Monterey has always stood out as the brand’s “fun vibes first” model. With its step-through frame, big retro headlight, slim bodywork, and upright seating position, it looks like something from a 1960s postcard – just brought into the modern era with lithium batteries and a brushless hub motor.

I had my first experience on one of these scooters back in 2021, when I reviewed the then-new model here on Electrek. I instantly fell in love with it and even got one for my dad. It now lives at his place and I think he gets just as much joy from looking at it in his garage as riding it.

You can see my review video below.

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The performance is solidly moped-class, which is exactly what it’s designed for. A 2,400W rear hub motor pushes the Monterey up to a claimed 30 mph or 48 km/h (I found it really topped out at closer to 32 mph or 51 km/h), making it perfect for city streets, beach towns, and lower-speed suburban routes.

A 60V, roughly 1.6 kWh removable battery offers around 30–40 miles (48-64 km) of real-world range, depending on how aggressively you twist the throttle. It’s commuter-ready, grocery-run-ready, and campus-ready right out of the crate.

It’s also remarkably approachable. At around 181 pounds (82 kg), the Monterey is light for a sit-down scooter, making it easy to maneuver and park. There’s a small storage cubby, LED lighting, and the usual simple twist-and-go operation. And it comes with full support from CSC, a company that keeps a massive warehouse stocked with components and spare parts.

My sister has a CSC SG250 (I’m still trying to convert her to electric) and has gotten great support from them in the past, including from their mechanics walking her through carburetor questions over the phone. So I know from personal experience that CSC is a great company that stands behind its bikes.

But the real story here is the price. Scooters in this class typically hover between $2,500 and $4,500, and electric retro-style models often jump well above that.

At $1,699, the Monterey is one of the least expensive street-legal electric scooters available from a reputable US distributor, especially one that actually stocks parts and provides phone support.

If you’ve been curious about swapping a few car errands for something electric – or you just want a fun, vintage-styled runabout for getting around town – this is one of the best deals of the year.

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Podcast: Tesla Robotaxi setback, Mercedes-Benz CLA EV, Bollinger is over, and more

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Podcast: Tesla Robotaxi setback, Mercedes-Benz CLA EV, Bollinger is over, and more

In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss a big Tesla Robotaxi setback, the new Mercedes-Benz CLA EV, Bollinger is over, and more.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Climate XChange, a nonpartisan nonprofit working to help states pass effective, equitable climate policies. Sales end on Dec. 8th for its 10th annual EV raffle, where participants have multiple opportunities to win their dream model. Visit CarbonRaffle.org/Electrek to learn more.

The show is live every Friday at 4 p.m. ET on Electrek’s YouTube channel.

As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.

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After the show ends at around 5 p.m. ET, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:

We now have a Patreon if you want to help us avoid more ads and invest more in our content. We have some awesome gifts for our Patreons and more coming.

Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the podcast:

Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 4:00 p.m. ET (or the video after 5 p.m. ET:

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