Removing "suckers" from the base was a mistake. That was the fresh growth from the roots. Cut out any dead wood and keep your fingers crossed that it tries to grow again - and don't remove the new shoots this time!

Keep it well watered if you're experiencing the dry spell affecting a lot of us. You could try giving it a dilute feed to try to help it. Usually plants need water more than feed, but as yours is an established plant, it might actually help in this case.

If a plant is grafted then removing suckers from the roots is the right thing to do. Your Fuchsia wasn't grafted - it's a bush you've had for donkey's years, so any growth from the roots is the same as the top growth and doesn't need removing.

Thankyou for your advice.

Its also a good idea not to prune before the winter - leaving the branches on gives the crown a little protection - useful in a hard winter especially. Time enough to prune when the plant begins to grow in spring and you can see what's still viable and what is dead and needs cutting off.

Agree with all that's been said - leave on the dead growth over winter and only cut back when you see new growth beginning, usually around April. With any luck, it should throw out new shoots from below ground, and this time, as advised, don't remove them.