Former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak on Monday became the United Kingdom’s first prime minister (PM) of Indian descent. Sunak, 42, said lifting the UK from its economic turmoil would be his top priority.
His appointment as PM was confirmed by King Charles III after winning the race to become Conservative Party leader. Conservative Party members elected Sunak as leader after challenger Penny Mordaunt failed to secure enough votes.
I will unite our country, not with words, but with action.
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 25, 2022
I will work day in and day out to deliver for you.
Watch my speech from Downing Street 👇 pic.twitter.com/diOBuwBqXc
Sunak initially faced a stiff challenge from former PM Boris Johnson, who had at first announced his plans to participate in the leadership contest, just over a month after he resigned to make way for Truss. However, Johnson later pulled out of the race, saying it was not the right time. “The best thing is that I do not allow my nomination to go forward and commit my support to whoever succeeds,” he said.
Saying the UK is “facing a profound economic crisis,” Sunak vowed to fix the economy immediately. “I will place economic stability and confidence at the heart of this government’s agenda. This will mean difficult decisions to come,” he stressed.
Safer Streets. Better schools. Control of our borders. Levelling Up.
— Conservatives (@Conservatives) October 26, 2022
Conservatives will deliver on the manifesto we were elected on. #PMQs pic.twitter.com/eLVU4fnonU
The new PM also reminded the British public of his dedication as Chancellor of the Exchequer to “protect people and businesses” throughout the COVID-19 crisis. “There are always limits, more so now than ever, but I promise you this: I will bring that same compassion to the challenges we face today,” he declared.
“I will unite our country, not with words, but with action. I will work day in and day out to deliver for you,” Sunak asserted. Vowing to rectify the mistakes made by his predecessor Truss, Sunak said that his government’s main agenda would be “levelling up and building an economy that embraces the opportunities of Brexit, where businesses invest, innovate, and create jobs.”
Congratulations to @RishiSunak on this historic day, this is the moment for every Conservative to give our new PM their full and wholehearted support.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) October 25, 2022
Furthermore, Sunak promised to deliver a strong National Health Service (NHS), better schools, greater control of the UK’s borders, increased commitment to environmental protection, and more support for the country’s military.
Just over a month ago, Sunak lost the race to become the PM to Truss. Truss then replaced Johnson, who resigned following increasing economic woes and several scandals that tarnished his leadership. One of these was the ‘Partygate’ scandal, which brought to light a series of parties attended by British ministers as the country’s citizens struggled with COVID-19 restrictions.
In coronating Rishi Sunak, Tory MPs have decided that a former hedge fund manager is a safe pair of hands.
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) October 25, 2022
The question is: for who?
The new Prime Minister will look after the interests of the 1%. The 99% will pay for their protection.
An investigation into the events concluded that Johnson’s government was guilty of holding multiple parties when the country was under COVID-19 lockdown. Johnson faced further pressure after the Pincher scandal, in which a number of Cabinet members and Tory MPs resigned after Johnson admitted in an interview that he regretted appointing Conservative MP Chris Pincher as deputy chief whip in February despite being aware of sexual misconduct allegations against him from as far back as 2019.
However, unable to propel the country in the right direction, Truss resigned 44 days after she was appointed, making her the country’s shortest-serving PM. Truss had faced widespread criticism over her economic plans and inability to lift the UK out of the financial crisis.
The King received The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP at Buckingham Palace today.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 25, 2022
His Majesty asked him to form a new Administration. Mr. Sunak accepted His Majesty's offer and was appointed Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury. pic.twitter.com/UnT3jMS8so
Her position became particularly untenable earlier this month when she dismissed former Chancellor of Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng just days after he was appointed. Both Kwarteng and Truss faced widespread criticism from the opposition and party members over their “mini-budget” plan to introduce tax cuts for the country’s wealthiest citizens. Furthermore, inflation has hit a 40-year-high of 10.1%, while the mini-budget plan caused the pound to plummet to $1.04, the lowest level since 1971.
The UK is currently in the throes of a recession and facing double-digit inflation, resulting mainly from rising energy prices due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Last month, the UK’s energy regulator raised its main cap on consumer energy bills from $2,284 to $4,112. Gas prices across the country have skyrocketed due to a rise in demand owing to a significant reduction in Russian energy imports. Forecasts suggest that the cap could rise to over $6,000 by mid-2023.
Warmest congratulations @RishiSunak! As you become UK PM, I look forward to working closely together on global issues, and implementing Roadmap 2030. Special Diwali wishes to the 'living bridge' of UK Indians, as we transform our historic ties into a modern partnership.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 24, 2022
Truss also faced opposition from within her party. Last week, over 100 Conservative MPs voted in favour of launching a no-confidence vote against her, mainly over the “mini-budget” and the poor economic situation. In fact, after she was forced to resign for sending an official document on the migration policy from her personal email, Home Secretary Suella Braverman criticised the Truss government for breaking “key pledges” such as cracking down on illegal migration, particularly the unlawful boat crossings across the English Channel.
Against this backdrop, Sunak is expected to address the UK’s worsening economic crisis, control illegal immigration, and unite his divided party. According to reports, Sunak is already considering introducing tax rises and major public spending cuts. He has also vowed to crack down on illegal immigration and fix the UK’s “broken” asylum system.
He has also appointed a new cabinet that includes Dominic Raab as deputy PM, Jeremy Hunt as the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Suella Braverman as Home Secretary, and James Cleverly as Foreign Secretary.