Rishi Sunak becomes UK’s First Prime Minister of color on Tuesday after he won the race to lead the Conservative Party, tasked with steering a deeply divided country through an economic downturn set to leave millions of people poorer.
The former chancellor has officially become UK prime minister after meeting King Charles at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.
One of the wealthiest politicians in Westminster, Sunak, 42, has become the country’s youngest leader in modern times – and its third in less than two months – as he takes over during one of the most turbulent eras in British political history.
He replaces Liz Truss, who only lasted 44 days before she said she would resign, needing to restore stability to a country reeling from years of political and economic turmoil and seeking to lead a party that has fractured along ideological lines.
Speaking outside Number 10 Downing Street, he promised he would earn people’s trust, adding he understood there would be work to do “after all that has happened”.
“I know the high office that I have accepted and I hope to live up to its demands but when the opportunity to serve comes along, you cannot question the moment, only the willingness.
“I stand here before you, ready to lead our country into the future, to put your needs above politics, to reach out and build a government that represents the very best traditions of my party.
“Together we can achieve incredible things. We will create a future worthy of the sacrifices so many have made and fill tomorrow and every day thereafter with hope,” he said.
He paid tribute to his predecessor Liz Truss, but added “some mistakes were made”.
He said they were “not born of ill will or bad intentions. Quite the opposite, in fact. But mistakes nonetheless”.
Mr Sunak also hailed Boris Johnson’s “incredible achievements” as prime minister.
Mr Johnson said all Conservatives should give Mr Sunak their “wholehearted support”.
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
Mr Sunak was the only candidate for the Conservative Party leadership, after Mr Johnson, and then House of Commons leader Penny Mordaunt bowed out of the race.
The millionaire and former hedge fund boss is the first British prime minister of Indian heritage, and at 42, the youngest in more than 200 years.