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Rishi Sunak calls for stability and unity as he wins contest to be PM | Rishi Sunak calls for stability and unity as he wins contest to be PM |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Rishi Sunak was surrounded by | |
Rishi Sunak, who will become the next UK prime minister within hours, has issued a plea for unity in the face of a "profound economic challenge". | |
He won the Tory leadership contest after rival Penny Mordaunt failed to secure enough backing from MPs. | |
In his first speech, Mr Sunak said bringing his party and the UK together would be his "utmost priority". | In his first speech, Mr Sunak said bringing his party and the UK together would be his "utmost priority". |
Mr Sunak, 42, will be the UK's first British Asian prime minister and the youngest for more than 200 years. | |
Mr Sunak - a practising Hindu - is expected to take office later this morning after being formally appointed by the King. | |
He replaces Liz Truss, following her resignation just 45 days into her tumultuous premiership last week. | He replaces Liz Truss, following her resignation just 45 days into her tumultuous premiership last week. |
After chairing her final cabinet meeting at 09:00 BST, the outgoing prime minister will make a statement outside No 10 before travelling to Buckingham Palace for her final audience with the King. | After chairing her final cabinet meeting at 09:00 BST, the outgoing prime minister will make a statement outside No 10 before travelling to Buckingham Palace for her final audience with the King. |
This will be followed by Mr Sunak's first audience with the monarch, during which he will be invited to form a government. | This will be followed by Mr Sunak's first audience with the monarch, during which he will be invited to form a government. |
He will then travel to Downing Street to make a statement at about 11:35, before entering No 10. | He will then travel to Downing Street to make a statement at about 11:35, before entering No 10. |
President Joe Biden has said he plans to call Mr Sunak to "offer his congratulations" after his meeting with the King, the White House Press Secretary said. | President Joe Biden has said he plans to call Mr Sunak to "offer his congratulations" after his meeting with the King, the White House Press Secretary said. |
A quick guide to the UK's next prime minister | A quick guide to the UK's next prime minister |
What does the prime minister actually do? | What does the prime minister actually do? |
Mr Sunak takes office as the third Conservative prime minister since the party won the last general election in 2019 - prompting Labour to lead calls for an early general election as a result. | Mr Sunak takes office as the third Conservative prime minister since the party won the last general election in 2019 - prompting Labour to lead calls for an early general election as a result. |
In his speech on Monday - which took place behind closed doors - Mr Sunak told Tory MPs this was going to be a tough period and ruled out an early general election, MP Simon Hoare said. | |
The former chancellor said the Conservative Party, trailing Labour in the polls by huge margins, was facing an "existential threat", but could win the next election by uniting. | The former chancellor said the Conservative Party, trailing Labour in the polls by huge margins, was facing an "existential threat", but could win the next election by uniting. |
Three MPs in the room told PA Media news agency Mr Sunak's message to the party was "unite or die", as they focus on delivering on the public's priorities during a cost of living crisis. | |
Later, in a TV address that lasted less than two minutes, Mr Sunak promised to serve with "integrity" and thanked outgoing Prime Minister Liz Truss for leading the country during "exceptionally difficult circumstances". | Later, in a TV address that lasted less than two minutes, Mr Sunak promised to serve with "integrity" and thanked outgoing Prime Minister Liz Truss for leading the country during "exceptionally difficult circumstances". |
"The United Kingdom is a great country but there is no doubt we face a profound economic challenge," he said. "We now need stability and unity and I will make it my utmost priority to bring our party and our country together." | "The United Kingdom is a great country but there is no doubt we face a profound economic challenge," he said. "We now need stability and unity and I will make it my utmost priority to bring our party and our country together." |
Mr Sunak's coronation, in effect, as Tory leader caps a rapid political comeback by the former chancellor after he lost out to Ms Truss in the last leadership contest during the summer. | Mr Sunak's coronation, in effect, as Tory leader caps a rapid political comeback by the former chancellor after he lost out to Ms Truss in the last leadership contest during the summer. |
Ms Truss - whose tax-cutting agenda Mr Sunak dismissed as "fairytale economics" - tweeted to congratulate him and offer her "full support". | Ms Truss - whose tax-cutting agenda Mr Sunak dismissed as "fairytale economics" - tweeted to congratulate him and offer her "full support". |
Her successor will take office at a time of economic crisis and pressure on public finances, exacerbated by Ms Truss's mini-budget, most of which has been scrapped. | Her successor will take office at a time of economic crisis and pressure on public finances, exacerbated by Ms Truss's mini-budget, most of which has been scrapped. |
Watch: Rishi Sunak makes first public address since winning Tory leadership contest | Watch: Rishi Sunak makes first public address since winning Tory leadership contest |
Watch: Rishi Sunak makes first public address since winning Tory leadership contest | Watch: Rishi Sunak makes first public address since winning Tory leadership contest |
Mr Sunak's leadership rival Penny Mordaunt withdrew from the latest contest minutes before the result was announced, admitting it was "clear that colleagues feel we need certainty today". | Mr Sunak's leadership rival Penny Mordaunt withdrew from the latest contest minutes before the result was announced, admitting it was "clear that colleagues feel we need certainty today". |
"This decision is an historic one and shows, once again, the diversity and talent of our party," Ms Mordaunt said. "Rishi has my full support." | "This decision is an historic one and shows, once again, the diversity and talent of our party," Ms Mordaunt said. "Rishi has my full support." |
Ms Mordaunt took the leadership race to the wire, but came under pressure to unite behind Mr Sunak after former Prime Minister Boris Johnson withdrew from the contest on Sunday. | Ms Mordaunt took the leadership race to the wire, but came under pressure to unite behind Mr Sunak after former Prime Minister Boris Johnson withdrew from the contest on Sunday. |
Mr Johnson - who resigned as prime minister only seven weeks ago - claimed he had enough support to stand but acknowledged now was "not the right time". | Mr Johnson - who resigned as prime minister only seven weeks ago - claimed he had enough support to stand but acknowledged now was "not the right time". |
Sources told the BBC that Mr Sunak and Mr Johnson met on Saturday as Tory MPs decided who to back in the second Tory leadership contest in four months. | Sources told the BBC that Mr Sunak and Mr Johnson met on Saturday as Tory MPs decided who to back in the second Tory leadership contest in four months. |
Mr Sunak was chancellor in Mr Johnson's government and within weeks of taking the role had to steer the UK economy through the Covid-19 pandemic. | Mr Sunak was chancellor in Mr Johnson's government and within weeks of taking the role had to steer the UK economy through the Covid-19 pandemic. |
But he quit as chancellor in July after the government was dogged by scandals, giving momentum to a cabinet mutiny that forced Mr Johnson from office. | But he quit as chancellor in July after the government was dogged by scandals, giving momentum to a cabinet mutiny that forced Mr Johnson from office. |
First elected as an MP for the constituency of Richmond in North Yorkshire in 2015, Mr Sunak has experienced a meteoric rise to the apex of British politics. | First elected as an MP for the constituency of Richmond in North Yorkshire in 2015, Mr Sunak has experienced a meteoric rise to the apex of British politics. |
Before becoming an MP, Mr Sunak worked in finance and is thought to be one of the richest MPs. | Before becoming an MP, Mr Sunak worked in finance and is thought to be one of the richest MPs. |
But his family's finances came under intense scrutiny earlier this year, when the tax affairs of his wife, Akshata Murty, were placed in the spotlight. | But his family's finances came under intense scrutiny earlier this year, when the tax affairs of his wife, Akshata Murty, were placed in the spotlight. |
Rishi Sunak: The basics | Rishi Sunak: The basics |
Age: 42 | Age: 42 |
Place of birth: Southampton | Place of birth: Southampton |
Home: London and Yorkshire | Home: London and Yorkshire |
Education: Winchester College, Oxford University, Stanford University | Education: Winchester College, Oxford University, Stanford University |
Family: Married to businesswoman Akshata Murty with two daughters | Family: Married to businesswoman Akshata Murty with two daughters |
Parliamentary constituency: Richmond (Yorkshire) | Parliamentary constituency: Richmond (Yorkshire) |
Opposition parties have been clamouring for a general election, arguing that Mr Sunak does not have a democratic mandate to become prime minister. | Opposition parties have been clamouring for a general election, arguing that Mr Sunak does not have a democratic mandate to become prime minister. |
Mr Sunak will be the fourth consecutive prime minister - after Theresa May, Mr Johnson and Ms Truss - to take the role of leader without a general election, although Mrs May and Mr Johnson both won general elections as PMs in 2017 and 2019. | Mr Sunak will be the fourth consecutive prime minister - after Theresa May, Mr Johnson and Ms Truss - to take the role of leader without a general election, although Mrs May and Mr Johnson both won general elections as PMs in 2017 and 2019. |
The next general election is not due to take place until January 2025 at the latest, after the Conservatives won a landslide majority in 2019. | The next general election is not due to take place until January 2025 at the latest, after the Conservatives won a landslide majority in 2019. |
Mr Sunak is under no obligation to call an early election under the UK's parliamentary political system. | Mr Sunak is under no obligation to call an early election under the UK's parliamentary political system. |
Labour's Pat McFadden, shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, said the Conservative Party has brought "instability and chaos". | |
"The party [Mr Sunak] represents is part of the problem, not the solution," he told BBC Breakfast. | |
He argued the country needed a "proper, new government" rather than a "game of musical chairs at the top of the Tory Party". | |
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey reiterated his calls for a general election, though accepted it was unlikely right now. | |
"It's increasingly clear the Tories don't trust the British people," he told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme. | |
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Mr Sunak should call an early general election and must not "unleash another round of austerity". | Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Mr Sunak should call an early general election and must not "unleash another round of austerity". |