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First Minister Nicola Sturgeon speaks to new PM Rishi Sunak | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has spoken to new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on his first day in office. | |
Afterwards Ms Sturgeon said that the call with Mr Sunak had been "constructive". | |
And Downing Street confirmed Mr Sunak "emphasised" their duty to work closely together. | |
It came just hours after the former chancellor succeeded Liz Truss and became the UK's third prime minister since September. | |
Ms Sturgeon tweeted: "I expressed hope that we will build a UK/Scot gov relationship based on mutual respect - inc for mandates - and my fear that further austerity will do real damage to people & public services. I look forward to further engagement soon." | |
Rishi Sunak must not unleash wave of austerity - Sturgeon | |
Rishi Sunak: What will new prime minister mean for Scotland? | |
Last month Ms Sturgeon revealed she had not had a phone call with Ms Truss more than a month after she became prime minister. | Last month Ms Sturgeon revealed she had not had a phone call with Ms Truss more than a month after she became prime minister. |
But Mr Sunak spoke to both the first minister and her Welsh counterpart Mark Drakeford within hours of his appointment. | |
He later posted: "Good to speak to @PrifWeinidog and @NicolaSturgeon this evening. I emphasised our duty to work closely together to respond to the shared challenges we face, so that collectively we can deliver for the people of the United Kingdom." | |
Earlier, the new prime minister confirmed that Alister Jack will continue in his role as Secretary of State for Scotland. | Earlier, the new prime minister confirmed that Alister Jack will continue in his role as Secretary of State for Scotland. |
Mr Sunak announced his new cabinet shortly after being appointed as prime minister by King Charles. | |
This included Jeremy Hunt remaining as Chancellor, James Cleverly as foreign secretary, Ben Wallace as defence secretary and Suella Braverman returning as home secretary. | This included Jeremy Hunt remaining as Chancellor, James Cleverly as foreign secretary, Ben Wallace as defence secretary and Suella Braverman returning as home secretary. |
Liz Truss went seven weeks and her entire career as prime minister without speaking to the Scottish and Welsh first ministers but Rishi Sunak has done it on day one. | |
I imagine they'll see a courtesy phone call as a low bar to cross, but it's a start. | |
For all that Mr Sunak is making more of an effort to engage with Nicola Sturgeon, I don't know if their relationship will necessarily be much warmer. | |
In the summer he said her plan for an independence referendum was "barmy" and that he wanted to "take her on and beat her". | |
The PM's relationship with Scotland and Holyrood will also have a big bearing. | |
He has talked about leading the "most active UK-wide government in decades", ending the "devolve and forget" approach and holding the Scottish government to account. | |
All of which will inevitably spark clashes with Scottish ministers. | |
During the Conservative leadership contest in the summer Ms Truss made headlines when she claimed it was best to ignore "attention seeker" Ms Sturgeon. | |
But Mr Sunak later said ignoring the SNP would be "dangerously complacent". | |
And he described Ms Sturgeon and her party as "an existential threat to our cherished union". | |
Rishi Sunak outside the Conservative campaign headquarters in London after winning the party's leadership election | |
On Monday the first minister congratulated Mr Sunak but urged him to call an early general election. | |
She also warned he must not unleash a new wave of austerity on the UK. | |
And commenting on Mr Sunak's opposition to her plans for another Scottish independence referendum, Ms Sturgeon said it was for the people of Scotland to decide. | |
She added: "Scottish democracy will not be the prisoner of Rishi Sunak or any British prime minister." |