Rishi Sunak Warns of Hard Decisions, Vows to “Clear the Mess”
Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Oct 25: The new British prime minister Rishi Sunak on Tuesday referred to the “mistakes” his predecessor Liz Truss has made and vowed to fix the economy, restore faith in politics and tackle a “profound economic crisis” while governing with honesty and keep the promises stated in the Conservative Party’s 2019 manifesto.
Standing in front of his Downing Street office, Mr Sunak who was earlier in the day appointed the Britain’s first coloured prime minister by the King Charles III, said he would try to fix the mess left by his predecessor, but warned the country there would be difficult decisions.
“Right now, our country is facing a profound economic crisis. The aftermath of COVID still lingers. [Vladimir] Putin’s war in Ukraine has destabilised energy markets and supply chains the world over,” Mr Sunak told reporters after meeting King Charles.
Referring to the “mistakes” made by Liz Truss, Sunak said, “I want to pay tribute to my predecessor Liz Truss. She was not wrong to want to improve growth in this country. It is a noble aim. And I admired her restlessness to create change. But some mistakes were made — not born of ill will, or bad intentions but mistakes nonetheless. And I have been elected as leader of my party and your prime minister, in part to fix them.”
He also complimented the former prime minister Boris Johnson by saying the mandate the Conservatives were handed at the 2019 election won by the party under his leadership was not the property of one individual, and he would be guided by its promises.
Mr Sunak said his “government will have integrity, professionalism, and accountability at every level. Trust is earned and I will earn yours. I will always be grateful to Boris Johnson for his incredible achievements as Prime Minister,” Mr Sunak said. “I will deliver on (our manifesto’s) promise. A stronger NHS, better schools, safer streets, control of our borders, protecting our environment, supporting our armed forces, levelling up, and building an economy that embraces the opportunities of Brexit where businesses invest, innovate and create jobs.”
Johnson too promised complete support to Sunak’s leadership to bring the country out of the economic mess.
Appealing to a public facing rising energy and food prices, Mr. Sunak, one of the wealthiest lawmakers in Parliament, said he fully appreciated how hard things were for many and cautioned that his government might be forced to take some tough decisions. “All I can say is that I am not daunted. I know the high office I have accepted and I hope to live up to its demands,” he said.
“So I stand here before you ready to lead our country into the future. To put your needs above politics, to reach out and build a government that represents the very best traditions of my party. Together we can achieve incredible things.”
“I will unite our country not with words, but with action. I will work day in and day out to deliver for you. This government will have integrity, professionalism, and accountability at every level. Trust is earned and I will earn yours,” Mr Sunak said.
The Indian-origin leader is the youngest to hold the UK’s top post in 200 years and the first Hindu Prime Minister of Britain. Mr Sunak is Britain’s third Prime Minister this year, after Liz Truss left office just 49 days into her term. The new premier inherited a daunting array of problems.
Departing from Downing Street, Ms Truss wished Sunak “every success” and said she remained “more convinced than ever” that Britain needed to be “bold” in confronting the challenges it faced.
Britain’s Conservative-supporting media hailed Mr Sunak’s appointment. “The force is with you, Rishi,” ran The Sun’s headline, in a reference to Mr Sunak’s love of “Star Wars” films. The Daily Mail called it “a new dawn for Britain”. But the left-leaning Guardian highlighted Mr Sunak’s warning to Conservative MPs that the party must “unite or die.”
Ms Truss left office as the shortest-serving premier in history, after a calamitous tax-slashing budget sparked economic and political turmoil. Mr Sunak, after the stunning turnaround in political fortunes, has vowed to work hard as Britain confronts decades-high inflation, surging borrowing costs and imminent recession.
But he also faces the uphill task of uniting a party riven with divisions and infighting. Gavin Williamson, who served as a minister in the Tory governments of both Theresa May and Mr Johnson, said the party was in the “last chance saloon” on unity. Mr Sunak will start appointing his top team before facing his first session of “Prime Minister’s Questions” in parliament on Wednesday.
