Conservative leadership candidate Rishi Sunak outside his home in London, following the resignation of Liz Truss as Prime Minister on Thursday. Picture date: Monday October 24, 2022. (Photo by Victoria Jones/PA Images via Getty Images)
The United Kingdom now has another new prime minister, just days after Liz Truss resigned from the role amid pressure from her party, the media, and Britain’s financial institutions. Taking her place at Number 10 Downing Street will be former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak. Although he is now the leader of the Conservative Party and de facto PM, the position will not be officially confirmed until he meets with King Charles III.
Sunak managed to secure the backing of more than 100 Conservative members of Parliament while no other challengers made the cut, meaning he is now the new PM by default. Former leader Boris Johnson is believed to have had the necessary support to mount a comeback challenge but pulled out of the race late Sunday evening. If another parliamentarian had garnered enough support, a vote would have been called among all Tory Party members.
Although figures in the Labour Party have congratulated Sunak on being the first Hindu leader of the UK, calls continue to mount for a general election to be held. Because parties rather than individuals are chosen to form a government, the PM can hold off announcing an election until December 29, 2024. However, with so many changes in leadership, it is widely seen as a risky strategy to wait until the last moment.