Rishi Sunak announced as next British prime minister
Rishi Sunak vowed “integrity” and “humility” after becoming the first person of colour set to become UK PM. Watch his speech.
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Former chancellor Rishi Sunak has been announced as the next British Prime Minister after rival Penny Mordaunt sensationally quit the Conservative leadership race, in one of the most turbulent periods in the country’s political history.
Getting a second shot this year at pocketing the keys to 10 Downing Street, the former banker and first Hindu UK PM has pledged to unite the fractious Conservative Party in a time of economic uncertainty.
He is set to form his government after an audience with King Charles III on Tuesday morning local time, once his predecessor Liz Truss travels to Buckingham Palace to officially resign.
The 42-year-old’s victory came on the day Hindus worldwide mark the start of the five-day festival of Diwali, a festival of lights celebrating good over evil.
It came after Ms Mordaunt, leader of House of Commons, failed to secure the support of the 100 Tory MPs needed to make it onto the ballot and force a head-to-head vote among Conservative Party members.
Both Mordaunt and former prime minister Liz Truss pledged their full support.
However, there was public silence from Boris Johnson — even as Mr Sunak urged his warring party to “unite or die”, according to Tory MPs present in a closed-doors meeting.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was quick to congratulate the incoming leader.
“Warmest congratulations @RishiSunak ! As you become UK PM, I look forward to working closely together on global issues, and implementing Roadmap 2030,” Modi tweeted, referring to a plan for deepening ties in trade and other areas.
He added: “Special Diwali wishes to the ‘living bridge’ of UK Indians, as we transform our historic ties into a modern partnership”.
‘ROBOT’: SUNAK’S SPEECH GETS MIXED RESPONSE
Addressing the public for the first time reading a surprising short statement, Mr Sunak acknowledged the tough economic challenges he faces to build a prosperous Britain, saying he would serve the country with “integrity” with “humility.”
“I am humbled and honoured to have the support of my parliamentary colleagues and to be elected as leader of the conservative and Unionist Party,” he said.
“It is the greatest privilege of my life to be able to serve the party I love and give back to the country.”
Following his speech, some Britons branded Mr Sunak a “robot” for the way he delivered his speech.
Robot Rishi goes in. Tells nation in very static clip: "We now need stability and unity and I will make it my utmost priority to bring our party and our country together. "
— Natasha Clark (@NatashaC) October 24, 2022
The Rishbot pic.twitter.com/qzPnxCJUvT
— John Stevens (@johnestevens) October 24, 2022
But he did have supporters too including commentator Piers Morgan who praised the speech as “to the point”.
Perfect speech by Sunak.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) October 24, 2022
Brief, no frills, no bullsh*t, no Latin phrases… and to the point. Britain’s a great country in a very tough spot, and he has a tough job to do to try to sort it out, so he’s going to get on with it. ✔ï¸
Mr Sunak, the youngest person to take office in more than 200 years and the first practising Hindu Prime Minister, was named leader after Mrs Mordaunt dropped out.
While her allies said it was “touch and go” and “we were close”, she dropped out
of the leadership race after failing to secure the support of MPs.
“I owe so much to the United Kingdom, it is a great country. But there is no doubt we face a profound economic challenge. We now need stability and unity,” Sunak said.
“And I will make it my utmost priority to bring our party and our country together.”
Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee, announced at 2pm (11pm AEST) he had only received “one valid nomination” and it was from Mr Sunak.
He said: “Rishi Sunak is therefore elected as leader of the Conservative Party”.
“Our party is our membership,” she tweeted in announcing her withdrawal.
“Whether we are elected representatives, activists, fundraisers or supporters. We all have a stake in who our leader is.”
“These are unprecedented times. Despite the compressed timetable for the leadership contest it is clear that colleagues feel we need certainty today.
“They have taken this decision in good faith for the good of the country.
“As a result, we have now chosen our next Prime Minister.
“This decision is an historic one and shows, once again, the diversity and talent of our party. Rishi has my full support.
“We all owe it to the country, to each other and to Rishi to unite and work together for the good of the nation.”
Following his speech, the pound climbed on the news he would be Britain’s next prime minister.
Senior figures from the UK’s opposition Labour party said Sunak must now face the country.
“The Tories have crowned Rishi Sunak without him saying a word about what he would do as PM. He has no mandate, no answers and no ideas,” tweeted Angela Rayner, deputy Labour leader.
SUNAK’S LITTLE KNOWN LINK TO BECKHAM’S
After a miserable defeat in the summer leadership contest, the former chancellor becomes the 57th British Prime Minister and the country’s first non-white prime minister at the age of 42.
He is married to an Indian, Akshata Murty, the daughter of the co-founder of IT giant Infosys.
Ms Murty’s wealth – estimated at around $700 million – has however proved awkward for Mr Sunak as millions of ordinary Britons reel from a painful cost-of-living crisis.
She has also earned millions of dollars in dividends in recent years from her Infosys stake, but her “non-domicile” status in the UK shielded some of this income from British taxes.
To assuage some of the resulting public anger that hurt her husband politically, Ms Murty said in April that she would pay UK tax on all her worldwide income.
“I do this because I want to, not because the rules require me to,” she tweeted.
“My decision … will not change the fact that India remains the country of my birth, citizenship, parents’ home and place of domicile. But I love the UK too.”
The couple’s two young children, daughters Krishna and Anoushka, have attended the same elite private primary school attended by David and Victoria Beckham’s daughter, Harper, according to The Mirror.
Glendower Prep in South Kensington charges annual school fees of £22,350 ($A39,936) per pupil.
The eldest of the Sunaks’ daughters has reportedly moved to a boarding school.
WHAT RISHI SUNAK MEANS FOR AUSTRALIA
Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister will lack the drive and commitment of his predecessor Liz Truss to boost Australia-UK relations, top analysts fear.
The indication that the former banker – the cabinet’s richest Member of Parliament – will beat cabinet minister Penny Mordaunt for the keys to No 10 Downing Street has not only surprised the country as he was seen as the party “backstabber” who engineered Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s demise, but has raised concerns he does not have the experience of his predecessor to improve relations with the land Down Under.
Ms Truss visited the country several times as trade and foreign secretary. She was also a fervent supporter of former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott whom she appointed as senior advisor to the UK’s Board of Trade.
An Oxford graduate, Mr Sunak criticised the UK-Australia trade deal for letting down British farmers by encouraging cheaper imports of meat and other produce made in the UK.
“Mr Sunak winning has very unclear implications for Australia,” said Matthew Lesh, head of public policy at the Institute of Economic Affairs, ahead of Monday’s Conservative leadership announcement.
“He raised concern about the UK-Australia trade deal but said he would not reverse what was said.
“He is a foreign policy novice and it’s not clear what this will mean for Australia – it will be a case of watch and see.”
Former High Commissioner to the UK and ex-Australian foreign affairs minister, Alexander Downer, is optimistic a more stable Britain, which Mr Sunak promises through new fiscal rules, will benefit relations, with the UK being the second largest foreign investor in Australia.
“As Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Sunak dealt with Australia and any new prime minister will be predisposed to working closely with Australia,” he said.
“He criticised farmers but he won’t do anything negative to undo existing deals. He is supportive of the trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States (AUKUS) and will continue to pursue it, as well as the free trade agreement negotiated by Liz Truss that needs to be ratified by both parliaments.
“He’s not as experienced as Liz Truss in his foreign dealings, however I voted for him as a member of a Conservative party because he is talented and bright and will deal with serious issues well.”
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