A North East Conservative councillor has called for Rishi Sunak to replace Liz Truss as Prime Minister, saying 'enough is enough'.

Mieka Smiles, who is also Deputy Middlesbrough Mayor to Andy Preston, said on Twitter that it was time to dig out her 'Ready for Rishi t-shirt', adding:"Let’s get the candidate who should have won in place and move on from this absolutely mortifying debacle."

Read more: North East is 'exhausted by financial uncertainty'

The Northern Echo: The Northern EchoThe Northern Echo (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

It comes as the PM has been warned by a senior minister that she cannot afford to make any more mistakes as she battles to stay in No 10.

Ms Truss will chair a meeting of the Cabinet and is also expected to hold talks with the European Research Group of Tory MPs after being forced to watch as her entire economic strategy was torn up by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.

She has apologised for the mistakes she made over the ill-fated mini-budget and has declared she intends to lead the Conservative Party into the next general election, although ultimately that may not be her choice if MPs move against her.

Read more: Darlington Football Club - new home will be 'vital for the good of the town'

Writing her feelings on Twitter, Ms Smiles said: "I want strong leadership. I’m not an economist but believed a clear plan - although it caused turbulence in the short term - could pay dividends long term.

"It was a wholly Conservative plan too. However U-turn after U-turn has left us with the worst of all worlds.

"I think Rishi would stabilise things. He was also who I backed in the leadership battle.

"I believe in giving our leaders a fair chance and backing - but enough is enough now."

One of the factors keeping Ms Truss in office despite being forced to abandon the economic platform that got her elected as Tory leader is the lack of an obvious candidate to replace her.

Tory MPs are reluctant to have another leadership contest among the Conservative membership, something that could take months and further damage the party’s reputation.

But avoiding a contest would mean identifying a consensus figure who would be acceptable to the majority of MPs.

The Northern Echo: PAPA (Image: PA)

In a BBC interview on Monday night, the PM admitted to and apologised for the “mistakes” over the mini-budget.

She said she has “adjusted what we’re doing” after the Government’s fiscal policies spooked the markets, putting in place a new Chancellor with a fresh strategy to “restore economic stability”.

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

She said she wanted to “accept responsibility and say sorry for the mistakes that have been made”.

“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 said.

She said she is “sticking around” because she was “elected to deliver for this country”, adding: “I will lead the Conservatives into the next general election.

“I will stay in the job to deliver for the national interest.”

Under current party rules Ms Truss is protected from a leadership challenge for 12 months, but that could change if enough Tory MPs demand it.

The Northern Echo: The Northern EchoThe Northern Echo (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

After Mr Hunt ditched promised tax cuts, Peter Gibson, Darlington Conservative MP, said as a Tory he "firmly believes in low taxes, allowing people to choose how to spend their own money".

Mr Gibson added: "Our new Chancellor has announced reversal of some of the measures in the recent mini budget which will restore confidence to our markets.

"After some difficult weeks the Conservative Party needs to pull together, particularly for those local councillors and activists in Darlington who have made such progress on transforming our town after 28 years of Labour.

"I hope they will be able to continue on their record of renewal and renaissance in our town."

Read next: