LIVE updates as Liz Truss fights to save job amid government in turmoil

Liz Truss is battling to save her job after a chaotic 24 hours which saw the home secretary step down for breaching the ministerial code ahead of dramatic scenes in Parliament as Tory MPs were ordered to vote against a fracking ban.

The events of Wednesday saw Suella Braverman lash out at Ms Truss’ “tumultuous” premiership in her resignation letter. She accused the government of “breaking key pledges” including on immigration policy.

Rumours later emerged that the government's chief whip Wendy Morton and her deputy, Craig Whittaker, had resigned in fury at the handling of a vote on a Labour motion over fracking. Recalling scenes in the lobby, Labour former minister Chris Bryant said some MPs had been “physically manhandled”. He told BBC Radio 4: “It was very aggressive, very angry, there was a lot of shouting, there was a lot of pointing, gesticulating, there was at least one hand on another MP, and to me that was clear bullying, intimidation.”

READ MORE: MPs say Liz Truss has just 12 hours to save her job as government teeters on brink

At 9.49pm – more than two hours after the vote – No 10 issued a statement saying both Ms Morton and Mr Whittaker remained in post. In an extraordinary further update at 1.33am, Downing Street said the Prime Minister has “full confidence” in both of them.

Business Secretary Mr Rees-Mogg insisted he had seen no evidence of anyone being manhandled, but senior Tory MP Sir Charles Walker said what took place was “inexcusable” and “a pitiful reflection on the Conservative Parliamentary Party”. Labour’s fracking ban motion was defeated by 230 votes to 326, with the division list showing around 40 Conservative MPs did not vote, although many of them would have had permission to be absent.

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