Rishi Sunak warns UK faces 'profound economic challenge' as he wins race to become PM

Rishi Sunak has said the UK faces a “profound economic challenge” in his first comments since being announced as the next prime minister.

He said he is “humbled and honoured” after he was selected by Conservative MPs to lead the party and the nation, describing it as the “greatest privilege in my life”.

Mr Sunak also paid tribute to outgoing prime minister Liz Truss for her “dedicated public service” in a brief speech at the Conservative Party headquarters in Westminster.

Rishi Sunak wins race to be prime minister – live updates

“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 will be the UK’s first Hindu prime minister, the first of Asian heritage, and the youngest for more than 200 years at the age of 42.

The title of youngest ever prime minister belongs to William Pitt the Younger, who was just 24 when he took office in 1783.

The former chancellor is taking over from Ms Truss, just two months after she beat him in the last leadership election.

Ms Truss, who was forced to resign 44 days into her premiership, congratulated her soon-to-be-successor and told him “you have my full support”.

Mr Sunak won the leadership race after Commons leader Penny Mordaunt bowed out at the eleventh hour on Monday, having failed to get the 100 nominations from Tory MPs required by the 2pm deadline.

Sources in the Mordaunt camp said she got 90 nominations, though the number of those who publicly announced their backing of her fell far short of this.

“These are unprecedented times. Despite the compressed timetable for the leadership contest, it is clear that colleagues feel we need certainty,” she said 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 decision came after Boris Johnson also withdrew from the contest on Sunday evening, despite claiming he had the backing of at least the 100 MPs required to make it on to the ballot.

It means Mr Sunak will enter No 10 unopposed and avoid an online ballot of the Conservative members that rejected him for Ms Truss last month.

Announcing the results of the leadership race, Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the powerful 1922 Committee, said the Conservative Party only received one “valid” nomination to be the leader, and that was Mr Sunak.

Several senior Tories have congratulated the Richmond MP and called on the party to unite around him after a tumultuous few weeks, but opposition parties have reiterated their calls for an immediate general election.

Mr Sunak is the third Conservative prime minister in seven weeks.

‘No mandate to lead’

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said: “Rishi Sunak has no mandate and no idea what working people need.

“We need a general election so the public get a say on the future of Britain – and the chance for a fresh start 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.

‘Political robot’ Sunak must show a bit more character to shine

Liz Bates

Political correspondent

@wizbates

He must have spent months thinking about this moment, and yet when Rishi Sunak stepped into the spotlight this afternoon, it all seemed to be over very quickly.

It was his first address on camera since he secured the top job and the first test of how he will communicate in the role.

The performance was professional, certainly concise, but also a little stiff.

The overall impression was one of a political robot.

What it revealed, which we have always known, is one of his political weaknesses – he is undoubtedly smart but can sometimes be too polished.

Much more comfortable in the role of the competent chancellor guiding the nation dutifully through a pandemic, he’s been used to having Boris Johnson by his side providing the more human element.

He’ll need to relax and show a bit more character if he’s going to shine on his own.

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MPs in the room said his message to the party was they must “unite or die”, as they focus on delivering on the public’s priorities during a cost of living crisis, with Mr Sunak promising to form a government “of all the talents”.

Senior Tory Simon Hoare said Mr Sunak told the party he would not call an early election, with the MP adding to reporters: “He is actually going to hit the ground running. We have no time to lose.”

Mr Sunak is expected to be installed as prime minister on Tuesday morning.

He now has the daunting task of leading the nation through an economic crisis exacerbated by the chaotic legacy of Ms Truss, who was ousted after only six weeks in office.

The former foreign secretary won the last leadership race on a mandate to slash taxes to spark economic growth, but she was forced to row back on almost all of her economic policies after her mini-budget sent the markets into financial turmoil and the pound crashing.

Mr Sunak had warned Ms Truss against her plans, calling her tax cuts “immoral” and “fantasy economics”.

He also has to appoint a new cabinet on the backdrop of widening divisions within the Conservative Party as he attempts to pull the economy back together and boost support for the party.