Picture : Twitter/ ANI
Rishi Sunak will make history as Britain’s first Indian-origin prime minister after being elected unopposed as the new leader of the governing Conservative Party on Diwali as Penny Mordaunt withdrew from the race.
This means the 42-year-old former chancellor, a devout Hindu, is poised to walk through the door of 10 Downing Street in London after an audience with King Charles III in Buckingham Palace, which is likely to be on Tuesday.
#WATCH | The United Kingdom’s PM-designate #RishiSunak arrives at 10 Downing Street in London.
(Source: Reuters) pic.twitter.com/m8dNGDN76P
— ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2022
I pledge that I will serve you with integrity and humility and I will work day in and day out to deliver for the British people Rishi Sunak was quoted as saying by ANI
Sunak will not officially become prime minister until Liz Truss — Britain’s shortest serving Prime Minister — formally tenders her resignation to the king after which he will be invited by the monarch to form a new government. Besides being the first Hindu prime minister of Indian heritage, Sunak is also the youngest for around 200 years at 42 years.
In a tweet the outgoing Prime Minister Liz Truss tweeted her congratulations to Rishi Sunak
Congratulations @RishiSunak on being appointed as Leader of the Conservative Party and our next Prime Minister.
You have my full support.
— Liz Truss (@trussliz) October 24, 2022
The former finance minister was comfortably in the lead, having secured the public backing of over half the 357 Tory MPs – way above the 100 minimum required to make the shortlist.
In time for the 2 pm local time Monday deadline, Sir Graham Brady, chair of the influential 1922 Committee of backbench MPs, announced in the parliament complex that he had received only one “valid” nomination and therefore Sunak is the winner of the leadership contest.
Reacting to the political Developments, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi too congratulated the UK PM designate in a tweet
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
