Rishi Sunak has won the Tory leadership race to become the United Kingdom’s next prime minister, the first person of Indian origin in the country’s history. He replaces Liz Truss who resigned last week after just 44 days in the role.
The development comes after Boris Johnson pulled out of the race late on Sunday night, Independent reported.
The former chancellor beat leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt after receiving the backing of over 180 Tory MPs to Mordaunt’s 27. “Rishi Sunak is therefore elected as leader of the Conservative party,” senior backbencher Graham Brady said, as Mordaunt vowed her “full support” for the former finance minister.
Sunak was to make his first remarks at 2:30 pm (1330 GMT), according to Brady, whose 1922 committee of Tory MPs organised a rapid leadership election following last week’s resignation of PM Truss.
Former leader Boris Johnson pulled out of the race late Sunday, leaving a straight fight between Sunak and Mordaunt.
“These are unprecedented times. Despite the compressed timetable for the leadership contest it is clear that colleagues feel we need certainty today,” Mordaunt said in a statement.
“They have taken this decision in good faith for the good of the country.”
The Tories retain a majority in parliament, meaning that as their leader, Sunak will be named prime minister by King Charles III.
