Tory MP for South West Wiltshire Dr Andrew Murrison has reacted to the news that Liz Truss has resigned as Prime Minister. 

Dr Murrison said he was "pleased" that Prime Minister Liz Truss has made her announcement.

He also backed Penny Morduant and Rishi Sunak as Mrs Truss's successor. 

He said: “I feel certain that she will now depart in an orderly and dignified way and that there will be a smooth transition to her successor.”

He thought it important to say that Liz Truss herself indicated that an election will happen within the next week and there will be a short timescale following talks with 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady.

Dr Murrison said he thought that we “could guess” who the candidates to succeed Liz Truss would be.

He added:  "There are two excellent candidates in my opinion, one is Rishi Sunak and the other is Penny Mordaunt.

“Both of them I count as friends and I admire them both but I have to make a choice as I did last time and for me that has to be Rishi Sunak.

“I feel confident that whoever is number two will occupy one of the great offices of state.”

Michelle Donelan, the MP for Chippenham and Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, has been approached for comment but has so far not responded.