More strife for under-fire Liz Truss as top minister sacked

British Prime Minister Liz Truss has fired her Home Secretary amid “security” leaks as the embattled leader fights to keep her job.

British Home Secretary Suella Braverman, has been sacked by an under fire Liz Truss after an “accidental” national security leak.

The Home Secretary was fired on Wednesday local time after she was caught mistakenly sharing secret information with an unvetted MP via email.

She’s been replaced in the Home Office by former Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, reports The Sun.

According to British reports, Ms Braverman was allegedly emailing Home Office material to Sir John Hayes, an ex security minister and long term backer.

Liz Truss has sacked her Home Secretary Suella Braverman. Picture: Supplied

In a bombshell resignation letter Ms Braverman said that she had huge “concerns about the direction of the government”, including breaking key manifesto promises on small boats.

She said: “I have concerns about the direction of this government.

“Not only have we broken key pledges that were promised to our voters, but I have had serious concerns about this government’s commitment to honouring manifesto commitments, such as reducing overall migration numbers and stopping illegal migration, particularly the dangerous small boats crossings.”

Liz Truss is battling to keep her job. Picture: AFP

Ms Braverman reported the mistake and informed the Cabinet Secretary and other officials – and later handed in her resignation.

The PM was told she had broken the ministerial code.

In a letter to the ex-Home Secretary after her sacking, Ms Truss said: “I accept your resignation and respect the decision you have made. It is important that the Ministerial Code is upheld, and that Cabinet confidentiality is respected.

“I look forward to working with you in the future and wish you all the best.”

The ex-Home Secretary was appointed to replace Priti Patel when Ms Truss became Tory leader and British PM.

Britain's Home Secretary Suella Braverman is out. Picture: AFP

But the pair have been at loggerheads ever since – with major disagreements over small boats and migration policy.

She becomes the third-shortest Home Secretary ever.

It comes as Ms Truss warned MPs that “I’m a fighter not a quitter”, as she battled to save her career and crumbling reputation.

The defiant PM hit back at Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer when he said she has no mandate from Britain to rule and sent the economy crashing.

Britain's Prime Minister Liz Truss (L) with Jeremy Hunt. Picture: AFP

Ms Truss vowed before MPs: “I am a fighter.”

She continued: “I have acted in the national interest to make sure that we have economic stability.

“We have delivered on the Energy Price Guarantee. We’ve delivered on National Insurance.

“We are going to deliver to stop the militant trade unions disrupting our railways.”

The PM hit out at Mr Starmer: “The honourable gentleman has no idea, he has no plan. And he is no alternative.”

In his concluding remarks the Labour leader said: “The only mandate she’s ever had is from members opposite, it was a mandate built on fantasy economics and it ended in disaster.

“The country’s got nothing to show for it except the destruction of the economy and the implosion of the Tory Party.”

CALLS FOR TRUSS TO QUIT GROW

It comes as Ms Truss faces growing calls to quit her job after being forced to scrap almost her entire package of tax cuts.

The embattled PM hired former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to replace the chancellor on Friday before he issued a statement on Monday explaining that all of her proposed measures – which prompted financial carnage in the UK – would be ditched immediately.

Ms Truss’s promise to slash taxes was the focus of the economic agenda that secured her the Tory leadership at the start of September.

However, her £45 billion ($A81 billion) raft of unfunded tax cuts caused the Pound to plunge in value and saw mortgage rates triple which led to widespread anger among the public and her own party.

On Monday, Ms Truss was forced to embarrassingly backtrack entirely as Mr Hunt announced that he will “reverse almost all the tax measures” that were announced just weeks ago.

“I do think it is the mark of an honest politician who does say, yes, I’ve made a mistake,” Ms Truss said on Monday.

UK Prime Minister Liz Truss sacked former Chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng. Picture: Getty Images

“I wanted to act … to help people with their energy bills to deal with the issue of high taxes, but we went too far and too fast. I’ve acknowledged that,” she told the BBC.

Mr Hunt’s changes include scrapping a planned reduction in tax for millions of workers, increasing corporation tax on businesses and reining in a policy that would have seen billions of pounds spent helping struggling families pay their burgeoning energy bills.

The sudden changes will save the UK £32 billion ($A58 billion) and Ms Truss and Mr Hunt hope the move will help regain market confidence.

The latest debacle comes as Kwasi Kwarteng was sensationally sacked as chancellor amid intense speculation Ms Truss was about to rewrite key parts of their economic plan.

Mr Kwarteng met Ms Truss for tense talks in Downing Street after cutting brief a US trip.

In a letter to the PM, a loyal Mr Kwarteng said Ms Truss’s vision for economic growth was “right” and he still backed it.

Britain's dismissed Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng walks out of Number 11 Downing Street. Picture: AFP

Responding to Mr Kwarteng in her own letter, Ms Truss said she was “deeply sorry” to lose him and thanked him for putting “the national interest first” by standing down.

“We share the same vision for our country and the same firm conviction to go for growth,” Ms Truss wrote.

The sacking of Mr Kwarteng makes him the second shortest-serving chancellor after just 38 days in the job.

An ally of Ms Truss, Mr Kwarteng supported her tax-cutting economic ideology and was seen as her political equal when he was elevated to the post on 6 September.

Kwasi Kwarteng and Britain's Prime Minister Liz Truss at the annual Conservative Party Conference. Picture: AFP

The prime minister has also asked Chris Philp to move to the Cabinet Office, with Edward Argar replacing him as chief secretary to the Treasury.

No. 10 cabinet ministers behind the scenes have been less than complimentary, according to sources who spoke to The Times.

“The whole budget thing, the way it was done, was wrong, even if the intent was right,” one minister said.

“Kwasi has always had this sort of he’s cleverer than everyone mentality, but Liz looked like she’s given up. It’s depressing.”

Another cabinet minister said: “It’s a s**t show. I’m really worried that nothing can happen. We’re hitting a state of paralysis quite quickly.”

Even inside Downing Street, officials think the game is up and it is just a question of when. “Senior civil servants are now openly talking about her going,” one Whitehall source said. “They think she’s had it.”

Originally published as More strife for under-fire Liz Truss as top minister sacked