Senior Conservatives have congratulated Rishi Sunak after it was confirmed he will become the UK’s next prime minister – but Labour has reiterated its calls for an immediate general election.
After a rapid political comeback, the former chancellor will become the UK’s youngest PM in modern political history and the country’s first ever Hindu leader after being selected unopposed by Conservative MPs to succeed Liz Truss.
He will enter Downing Street less than two months after he lost the last Conservative leadership race in the summer.
Former PM David Cameron was among the first to offer his congratulations, adding that he is “proud” to see Mr Sunak become the UK’s first British Indian prime minister.
Sunak to address Tory MPs this afternoon – Politics latest
“Huge congratulations Rishi Sunak on becoming PM to lead us through challenging times,” he posted on social media.
“I predicted a decade ago that Conservatives would select our first Brit Indian PM and proud today that comes to be.
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“I wish Rishi the v best, he has my wholehearted support.”
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Nadhim Zahawi said Mr Sunak’s election proves “the United Kingdom is a place where you can achieve amazing things”.
In a post on social media, he added: “Under Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives we will never stop helping people make their British dream come true, regardless of their background. Congratulations, Rishi.”
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly urged Conservatives to “unite” around Mr Sunak following his election as the party’s next leader.
“We have absolutely got to focus on the needs of the British people,” he told Sky News.
“That means uniting round the prime minister. We don’t have the luxury of argument and division. We have to focus on delivery for the British people.”
His view was reiterated by Business Secetary and Johnson-backer Jacob Rees-Mogg who said “now is the time for party unity”.
But Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner accused the former chancellor of having “no mandate” to govern, and reiterated her party’s demands for an immediate general election.
“The Tories have crowned Rishi Sunak without him saying a word about what he would do as PM,” she said.
“He has no mandate, no answers and no ideas.
“Nobody voted for this. The public deserve their say on Britain’s future through a general election. It’s time for a fresh start with Labour.”
Ms Rayner added that Mr Sunak was “already putting party before country” by addressing Tory MPs before the public this afternoon.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon echoed this view.
“Congratulations to Rishi Sunak – I wish him well and, notwithstanding our political differences, will do my best to build a constructive working relationship with him in the interests of those we serve,” she said.
“That he becomes the first British Asian – indeed the first from any minority ethnic background – to become PM is a genuinely significant moment. It certainly makes this a special Diwali
“As for the politics, I’d suggest one immediate decision he should take and one he certainly should not. He should call an early general election. And he should not – must not – unleash another round of austerity. Our public services will not withstand that.”
Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey accused the Tories of installing “another out-of-touch prime minister”, as he also called for the public to have the chance to go to the polls.
“The Conservative Party has trashed the British economy, pushed local health services to the brink, and added hundreds of pounds to people’s monthly mortgage payments,” he said in a statement.
“Now Conservative MPs have installed another out-of-touch prime minister with no plan to repair the damage and without giving the British people a say.”
Accusing Mr Sunak of not understanding “the challenges facing struggling families and pensioners”, he continued: “The only way to end the chaos is a general election now.”
