Boris Johnson Should Not Call A Snap General Election, Says Tory Leadership Supporter Liz Truss

Boris Johnson Should Not Call A Snap General Election, Says Liz Truss
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Yui Mok/PA Wire

The chances of a snap general election being called after the election of a new Conservative Party leader appear to be receding.

It had been widely assumed a new prime minister would go to the country in order to secure a fresh mandate from voters in the wake of the Brexit result.

However this morning, environment secretary Liz Truss, a leading supporter of Boris Johnson's leadership bid, said there should not be an election.

"I don’t think we should have a general election. I think there is a need for stability in our country now. I think it's very important we do what we need to do in terms of our exit negotiations," she told Sky News.

A source close to Johnson told The Guardian the former mayor of London believed the EU referendum result provided him with a mandate to begin negotiations with Brussels.

Several Tory MPs are also urging David Cameron’s successor not to call a snap general election in the Autumn.

Johnson is expected to face a challenge from Theresa May, Stephen Crabb, Nicky Morgan and others for the top job.

Truss, who voted 'Remain', in the referendum, said the new prime minister needed to be a Brexiteer.

"I think its really important that following the decision of the British people to leave, we have someone who advocated that case conducting our exit from the EU," she said.

The Huffington Post UK has learned many MPs, particularly those from the 2015 intake, are looking to back a leadership candidate who promises not to go to the country later this year.

With the new Conservative leader set to be announced on September 9, rumours are swirling around Westminster that a snap General Election could follow in October.

David Warburton, Tory MP for Somerton and Frome, told HuffPost: "It’s not something most people would want.

"It would be gruelling for everybody, not least the Labour Party and we would need the support of the Labour Party almost certainly [to overturn the Fixed Parliaments Act].

"It would create more chaos in the country and people are going to have had enough of it. It will make people feel we are not doing the job we were elected for."

Colchester MP Will Quince told the HuffPost UK there was 'nil" support for an Autumn election among his colleagues.

He said: "I think people have election fatigue, I don’t think there’s an appetite for it."

The possibility of a election this year was in part what motivated Labour MPs to move against Jeremy Corbyn - with many believing the party would be hammered by the Conservatives.