Rishi: We will fix Britain
LONDON - Rishi Sunak plunged the knife in on Liz Truss yesterday pledging to ‘fix’ her ‘mistakes’ after taking over as Britain’s 57th prime minister (PM).
The incoming premier addressed the nation in Downing Street after being asked to form a government by King Charles in the traditional ‘kissing hands’ ceremony.
He warned there will be ‘difficult’ decisions to deal with the ‘profound economic crisis’ facing the country, saying he ‘understood’ the way Britons were suffering. ‘I fully understand how hard things are,’ he added.
In a swipe at Boris Johnson, he said the ‘mandate’ from the 2019 election did not belong to any individual. ‘‘I stand here before you ready to lead our country into the future. Ready to put your needs before politics,’’ he said.
Earlier, Liz Truss hailed her ‘significant achievements’ as she gave her farewell speech outside No10 - sealing her fate as the shortest-serving PM ever.
Watched by husband Hugh, her two daughters, staff and ministers, Truss made a defiant valedictory speech in Downing Street - with little hint of emotion and no apology.
She said it had been a ‘huge honour to lead the country’. ‘‘In just a short period this government has acted urgently and decisively... we helped millions of households with their energy bills,’’ she said.
Earlier, she gathered her Cabinet one last time, telling them they could boast of ‘significant achievements’ and had been in charge at a ‘vital moment in the history of our country’.
In an uncompromising message despite the market carnage caused by the mini-Budget, she added that ‘lower taxes’ are needed and the country cannot be ‘low growth’.
‘‘I believe in Britain. I know that brighter days lie ahead,’’ she added.
Truss, again accompanied by her family, then went to see the King at Buckingham Palace and formally resigned. Friends said she will ‘take a break’ from politics, having passed the torch to a politician she soundly defeated in the previous Tory leadership campaign just seven weeks ago.