Rishi Sunak has officially become the prime minister of the United Kingdom following an audience with the King at Buckingham Palace.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak began by saying he has accepted an invitation from King Charles III to form a new government.
Like yesterday in his televised speech, Sunak started by paying tribute to his predecessor Liz Truss.
“It is only right to explain why I am standing here as your new prime minister,” he says.
“Right now our country is facing a profound economic crisis.
“The aftermath of Covid still lingers.”
He also said he admired her restlessness to create change – but “some mistakes were made”.
“Not born of ill will or bad intentions, quite the opposite. But mistakes nonetheless.”
Sunak added that during his time as chancellor he did everything he could “to protect people and businesses” through schemes such as furlough.
“I will bring the same compasssion to the challenges we face today,” he said, adding that he will not leave the next generation with a “debt to settle that we were too weak to pay ourselves”.
“I will unite our country not with words but with action,” says Sunak.
“I will work day in and day out to deliver for you.”
Sunak is the first PM that the king appointed, with his late mother Queen Elizabeth having seen 15 premiers during her 70-year reign.