Why wasn't Liz Truss in Parliament? Penny Mourdant denies PM was 'cowering under her desk' as she was missing from urgent question

Prime Minister Liz Truss was missing from the House of Commons today, with Leader of the House Penny Mourdant stepping in for her.

The PM's absence this afternoon (Monday October 17) follows Jeremy Hunt's fiscal statement this morning. He announced the government would make huge changes to the economic strategy laid out in September's disastrous mini-budget.

As Ms Truss battles to defend her leadership, Mr Hunt has scaled back the energy support package and ditched “almost all” of the tax cuts announced by his predecessor Kwasi Kwarteng. In the Commons, shouts of “where is she?” and “weak” could be heard as Penny Mordaunt deputised for the Prime Minister.

Read more : Commons LIVE as Jeremy Hunt updates MPs after tearing up mini-budget

She was appointed to respond to an urgent question on the Prime Minister’s decision to appoint a new Chancellor. Ms Mordaunt said: “With apologies to the Leader of the Opposition and the House, the PM is detained on urgent business… and I’m afraid you’ll have to make do with me.”

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer thanked Ms Mordaunt for her answer on behalf of Ms Truss, adding: "I guess under this Tory government, everybody gets to be PM for fifteen minutes". He quipped: "It's time for leaders to lead, but where is the PM? The lady's not for turning... up"

Meanwhile Labour MP Stella Creasy suggested that the PM is 'cowering under her desk and hoping for it all to go away'. She asked if it was about time Ms Truss stepped aside for someone who can make decision in the national interest.

Ms Mordaunt responded: "The PM is not under a desk. I can assure the House that with regret she is not here for a very good reason."

A Downing Street source added that the PM had been in “wall-to-wall meetings”