25 Oct 2022

Deputy PM congratulates Rishi Sunak on becoming UK Prime Minister

From Morning Report, 7:13 am on 25 October 2022

Rishi Sunak will be the UK's next Prime Minister, replacing the country's shortest-serving leader ever, Liz Truss.

The former treasurer will be the third person to lead the country in seven weeks, and the fifth since 2016.

His win was cemented after his sole rival, Penny Mordaunt, pulled out of the Tory leadership race at the last minute.

Sunak pledged unity in his first speech as Conservative Party leader. Reaction from fellow colleagues appears to be one of relief, after weeks of political turmoil.

Foreign secretary James Cleverly is glad to move on.

At 42, Sunak will be the youngest prime minister in more than a century, and the country's first of Hindu or Asian descent.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is off to Antarctica today, Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson spoke to Corin Dann in her regular spot .