Britons reacted to the resignation of Prime Minister Liz Truss on Thursday, after a tumultuous term in which her policies triggered turmoil in financial markets and a rebellion in her party that obliterated her authority. She is the third Conservative prime minister to resign in as many years and leaves a divided party seeking a leader who can unify its warring factions. Truss, who said she will remain in office until a replacement is chosen, has been prime minister for just 45 days. On the streets of London there was mixed reaction to the news. "There's people in this country worrying about how to pay their fuel bills and buy food. And we haven't even got a prime minister now," said Jan Chester, who was visiting London with her friend from Essex. Making a hastily scheduled statement outside her 10 Downing Street office, Truss acknowledged she could "deliver the mandate on which I was elected". Bitterly divided Conservative Party lawmakers have just a few days to agree on a successor, or face another leadership contest, the third in three years. Potential contenders include former Treasury chief Rishi Sunak, who lost to Truss in the last leadership contest, House of Commons leader Penny Mordaunt, Defense Secretary Ben Wallace — and Boris Johnson, the former prime minister ousted in July over a series of ethics scandals. A national election doesn't have to be held until 2024, but opposition parties demanded one be held now, saying the government lacks democratic legitimacy.