Rishi Sunak wins race to be Britain’s next prime minister

Rather remarkably, Rishi Sunak managed to become Tory Party leader without speaking publicly during the campaign. That’s just one reminder of how bizarre the past week or so has been.

So there was a lot of anticipation in advance of his statement from Conservative HQ.

What can we say? Well, first of all, it was short. And it didn’t get into the weeds of the policies he’s likely to pursue once he’s prime minister (which won’t happen today, but could happen tomorrow).

He acknowledged that the country faces “profound” economic challenges.

This is likely to dominate his time in office, with an economic plan still scheduled for 31 October.

There may well be some harsh measures in this to try and improve the UK’s financial outlook.

Sunak called for “unity” in his party. That’s been in short supply lately for the Conservatives, but perhaps him ultimately being the sole candidate in this leadership contest could help him assert authority.

The incoming prime minister also said a period of “stability” was needed.

The incoming PM pledged to serve with “integrity and humility”. That’s something many Tory MPs think may have been missing in recent years.

So we now have some words from the new Tory leader, but we’re some way short of knowing in detail what action he’s going to take as prime minister.

Rather remarkably, Rishi Sunak managed to become Tory Party leader without speaking publicly during the campaign. That’s just one reminder of how bizarre the past week or so has been.

So there was a lot of anticipation in advance of his statement from Conservative HQ.

What can we say? Well, first of all, it was short. And it didn’t get into the weeds of the policies he’s likely to pursue once he’s prime minister (which won’t happen today, but could happen tomorrow).

He acknowledged that the country faces “profound” economic challenges.

This is likely to dominate his time in office, with an economic plan still scheduled for 31 October.

There may well be some harsh measures in this to try and improve the UK’s financial outlook.

Sunak called for “unity” in his party. That’s been in short supply lately for the Conservatives, but perhaps him ultimately being the sole candidate in this leadership contest could help him assert authority.

The incoming prime minister also said a period of “stability” was needed.

The incoming PM pledged to serve with “integrity and humility”. That’s something many Tory MPs think may have been missing in recent years.

So we now have some words from the new Tory leader, but we’re some way short of knowing in detail what action he’s going to take as prime minister.

Conservatives have broken their promises and broken the economy, says Labour’s deputy leader.

Speaking a little earlier, Angela Rayner repeated her party’s call for a general election, saying the Tories could not “keep doling out prime ministers every month”.

She added that Rishi Sunak was “rejected” by his own party members a few weeks ago when he lost the leadership race to Liz Truss.

Your views: ‘I’m no Tory but I’m relieved’

Many of you have been sending in comments reacting to the news that Rishi Sunak will be the next UK prime minister. Here are some of them:Quote Message: I’m no Tory but am so relieved that we’ve got Rishi Sunak as PM. I may not agree with all of his politics but at least he understands how the world and the economy works. from Ewen Cameron

I’m no Tory but am so relieved that we’ve got Rishi Sunak as PM. I may not agree with all of his politics but at least he understands how the world and the economy works.Ewen CameronQuote Message: I cannot believe we have ended up with a third-choice PM that could be quite easily be attributed with starting the downfall of a previous PM, that was rejected by his party membership and is finally elected as PM by Tory MPs who think democracy only belongs to them. What kind of country are we living in? And I’m a Tory. from Phil Mee

I cannot believe we have ended up with a third-choice PM that could be quite easily be attributed with starting the downfall of a previous PM, that was rejected by his party membership and is finally elected as PM by Tory MPs who think democracy only belongs to them. What kind of country are we living in? And I’m a Tory.Phil MeeQuote Message: It’s about time we had a non-white prime minister. So what if he is so young? He has an understanding of finance (as did Gordon Brown). It is a mistake to say he doesn’t know what working people need. His parents started off with a local pharmacy and saved hard for his education. He made his own fortune and, unlike Boris Johnson and his cronies (think Jacob Rees-Mogg), did not inherit the proverbial silver spoon. I hope he does well but I personally will not be voting for the Conservatives at the next general election! from Marian Pickard

It’s about time we had a non-white prime minister. So what if he is so young? He has an understanding of finance (as did Gordon Brown). It is a mistake to say he doesn’t know what working people need. His parents started off with a local pharmacy and saved hard for his education. He made his own fortune and, unlike Boris Johnson and his cronies (think Jacob Rees-Mogg), did not inherit the proverbial silver spoon. I hope he does well but I personally will not be voting for the Conservatives at the next general election!

How will new PM get on with Scotland’s FM?

Perhaps the one pledge Liz Truss was able to follow through on from her leadership campaign was to “ignore” Nicola Sturgeon – she never had a formal meeting or even a phone call with the Scottish first minister.

It seems unlikely her successor Rishi Sunak will take this same approach, but he has not been much warmer about the SNP leader.

In the summer Tory leadership contest, he said it would be “dangerously complacent” to ignore Sturgeon, given the “existential threat” her party poses to the union.

He has described the idea of a fresh referendum on independence as “quite frankly barmy”, saying he couldn’t see circumstances where he would back one.

All of this goes down extremely badly with Scottish ministers, who bristle at any notion of a “Westminster power grab” of Holyrood responsibilities.

So while Sunak may make more of an effort to speak to Sturgeon, she has been clear that she will be making every effort to get shot of him in short order – either via a general election or independence.

Sturgeon congratulates Sunak but says Scotland would never have voted for him

Scotland’s first minister earlier tweeted her congratulations to Rishi Sunak.

Nicola Sturgeon pledges to build a “constructive working relationship” with the new PM.

She says the fact he will become the first British Asian to become PM is a genuinely significant moment.

However, she reiterated her calls for a general election.Quote Message: For Scotland, of course, he becomes another PM we did not and, without doubt would not, vote for even if given the chance.”

For Scotland, of course, he becomes another PM we did not and, without doubt would not, vote for even if given the chance.”

LISTEN: Economy is the priority – Kuenssberg on Sunak

Unsurprisingly, there’s been a lot of reaction to the news former chancellor Rishi Sunak is set to replace Liz Truss as prime minister of the UK from as early as tomorrow.

The BBC’s Newscast team have made an emergency episode, asking and answering: how did Rishi Sunak get here, what will he actually do as PM and what challenges will he face?

The BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg gives her instant take, alongside Adam Fleming and Chris Mason.

In Wakefield, people ask: Will a change in leader change lives?

In the past three years, people here voted for change. They also got it today, but they’re unsure if they will see and feel the difference.

One man told us: “We will always be the north and they will always be the south.”

Sunak leaves Tory HQ with a smile and a wave

Rishi Sunak – after his first televised address as Tory leader – left Conservative HQ smiling and with a wave to the small crowd that had gathered.

There were shouts from the crowd of “happy Diwali”.

A few minutes earlier, one Conservative MP leaving the building told me: “We have a grown up in charge now.”

Another said: “At last I can look my constituents in the eye and say I can back what the government says”.

And yet another commented: “There is a groundswell of optimism in the party now”.

Recap of this afternoon’s events

PA MediaCopyright: PA Media

In the last half an hour, we heard from Rishi Sunak – the UK’s next prime minister.

Here’s a quick recap of what’s been happening.

• In a short televised address, his first as Tory leader, Sunak paid tribute to outgoing PM Liz Truss and warned that the UK faced a “profound” economic crisis
• Sunak said he intended to serve with “integrity and humility”
• A spokesperson for Truss said she would remain in Downing Street for at least another day, and that there would be no transition of power today
• Earlier, Penny Mordaunt – Sunak’s Tory leadership rival – withdrew from the contest just moments before the deadline for nominations to be submitted. Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee which organised the contest, confirmed only one nomination had been received
• Opposition parties have greeted Sunak’s victory with fresh calls for an early general election – something the incoming PM has been quick to rule out

What’s Sunak previously said about key issues?

That was a very brief statement from the incoming PM – but read on for a summary of what he’s previously said about three key issues facing the country.

Brexit

Sunak campaigned for leaving the European Union in the lead up to the 2016 referendum, gathering a reputation as a staunch supporter of the project in the build up to that vote.

During the summer leadership election, he said he wanted to “fix” the Northern Ireland protocol, reform all EU laws still in place by next general election and scrap inherited EU financial regulations.

Economy and tax

The former chancellor was the driving force behind the rise in corporation tax from 19% to 25%, and the (now scrapped) rise in National Insurance – but has said he aims to bring down taxes overall in the future when it’s practical.

In his first bid to become PM, Sunak suggested scrapping the 5% VAT on domestic energy bills for next year and cutting the lower rate of income tax – currently 20% – by 1% from April 2024.

Sunak has also spoken extensively about the need to bring down government debt, and was very critical over the summer of Liz Truss’s plans to pay for tax cuts via extra government borrowing.

Immigration

Sunak has pledged to stick with the government’s Rwanda policy – which aims to send some cross-Channel migrants to the east African country, but is currently undergoing legal challenges.

The Home Office says the policy will work by deterring those using “illegal, dangerous or unnecessary methods” – such as on small boats or hidden in lorries – from claiming asylum in the UK instead of other safe countries like France.

Sunak has also said the overall number of asylum claims should be capped, and the rules of who is eligible to apply for asylum must be legally tightened.

New PM pledges to serve with ‘integrity and humility’

“I pledge that I will service you with integrity and humility,” Sunak says.

He adds that he will work day in day out to “deliver for the British people” – bringing a very short statement to a close.

Sunak warns of ‘profound’ economic challenges

Rishi Sunak says the UK is a great country but faces “profound” economic challenges.

He calls for stability and unity.

Sunak ‘humbled and honoured’

Sunak says he is “humbled and honoured” to have the support of his fellow MPs and be elected leader.

“It is the greatest privilege of my life to be able to serve the party I love and give back to the country I owe so much to.”