Rishi Sunak has mentioned the UK faces a “profound economic challenge” in his first feedback since being introduced as the following prime minister.
He mentioned he’s “humbled and honoured” after he was chosen by Conservative MPs to guide the celebration and the nation, describing it because the “greatest privilege in my life”.
Mr Sunak additionally paid tribute to outgoing prime minister Liz Truss for her “dedicated public service” in a short speech on the Conservative Party headquarters in Westminster.
Rishi Sunak wins race to be prime minister – dwell updates
“The United Kingdom is a great country, but there is no doubt we face a profound economic challenge,” he mentioned.
“We now need stability and unity, and I will make it my utmost priority to bring our party and our country together.”
Mr Sunak would be the UK’s first Hindu prime minister, the primary of Asian heritage, and the youngest for greater than 200 years on the age of 42.
The title of youngest ever prime minister belongs to William Pitt the Younger, who was simply 24 when he took workplace in 1783.
The former chancellor is taking up from Ms Truss, simply two months after she beat him within the final management election.
Ms Truss, who was pressured to resign 44 days into her premiership, congratulated her soon-to-be-successor and instructed him “you have my full support”.
Mr Sunak received the management race after Commons chief Penny Mordaunt bowed out on the eleventh hour on Monday, having didn’t get the 100 nominations from Tory MPs required by the 2pm deadline.
Sources within the Mordaunt camp mentioned she acquired 90 nominations, although the variety of those that publicly introduced their backing of her fell far in need of this.
“These are unprecedented times. Despite the compressed timetable for the leadership contest, it is clear that colleagues feel we need certainty,” she mentioned in a tweet.
“They have taken this decision in good faith for the sake of the country.”
She added: “We all owe it to the country to each other and to Rishi to unite and work together for the good of the nation. There is much work to be done.”
Her choice got here after Boris Johnson additionally withdrew from the competition on Sunday night, regardless of claiming he had the backing of no less than the 100 MPs required to make it on to the poll.
It means Mr Sunak will enter No 10 unopposed and keep away from an internet poll of the Conservative members that rejected him for Ms Truss final month.
Announcing the outcomes of the management race, Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the highly effective 1922 Committee, mentioned the Conservative Party solely obtained one “valid” nomination to be the chief, and that was Mr Sunak.
Several senior Tories have congratulated the Richmond MP and referred to as on the celebration to unite round him after a tumultuous few weeks, however opposition events have reiterated their requires a direct normal election.
Mr Sunak is the third Conservative prime minister in seven weeks.
‘No mandate to guide’
Deputy Labour chief Angela Rayner mentioned: “Rishi Sunak has no mandate and no idea what working people need.
“We want a normal election so the general public get a say on the way forward for Britain – and the prospect for a contemporary begin with Labour.”
However, Mr Sunak is said to have told the Conservative Party he would not give in to the opposition’s demand.
The new prime minister sought to hit the ground running by addressing Conservative MPs behind closed doors in the House of Commons half an hour after his victory was announced.
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MPs within the room mentioned his message to the celebration was they need to “unite or die”, as they deal with delivering on the general public’s priorities throughout a value of residing disaster, with Mr Sunak promising to kind a authorities “of all the talents”.
Senior Tory Simon Hoare mentioned Mr Sunak instructed the celebration he wouldn’t name an early election, with the MP including to reporters: “He is actually going to hit the ground running. We have no time to lose.”
Mr Sunak is predicted to be put in as prime minister on Tuesday morning.
He now has the daunting job of main the nation via an financial disaster exacerbated by the chaotic legacy of Ms Truss, who was ousted after solely six weeks in workplace.
The former overseas secretary received the final management race on a mandate to slash taxes to spark financial progress, however she was pressured to row again on nearly all of her financial insurance policies after her mini-budget despatched the markets into monetary turmoil and the pound crashing.
Mr Sunak had warned Ms Truss towards her plans, calling her tax cuts “immoral” and “fantasy economics”.
He additionally has to nominate a brand new cupboard on the backdrop of widening divisions throughout the Conservative Party as he makes an attempt to drag the economic system again collectively and increase help for the celebration.
Source: information.sky.com”