Rishi Sunak to be the next UK Prime Minister
Penny Mordaunt has dropped out of the race
Last updated 24th Oct 2022
Rishi Sunak is going to be the next Prime Minister of the UK after Penny Mordaunt dropped out of the race.
That decision leaves only one candidate, Rishi Sunak, which means the competition doesn't need to go to a vote
Candidates had until 2pm to achieve the minimum 100 backers needed, in a statement posted online two minutes before the deadline, Ms Mordaunt said her opponent now has her “full support”.
Boris Johnson withdrew from the race on Sunday, he said there was a “very good chance” he could have been back in No 10 by the end of the week if he had stood but admitted he could not unite the Conservative party.
Rishi Sunak
The former chancellor won the support of Conservative MPs to succeed Liz Truss as Tory leader on Monday and will enter Downing Street less than two months after he lost the last race.
Mr Sunak will be the UK’s first Hindu prime minister, the first of Asian heritage, and the youngest for more than 200 years at the age of 42.
The next Prime Minister confirmed
Sir Graham Brady, who as chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench Conservatives was overseeing the contest, said he received only one valid nomination form.
“Rishi Sunak is therefore elected the next leader of the Conservative Party,” he added.
Rishi Sunak - our next Prime Minister
Rishi Sunak and his wife
Rishi Sunak is MP for Richmond in Yorkshire. He was born in Southampton to parents of Indian descent and is married to Akshata Murty (pictured) daughter of Indian billionaire N. R. Narayana Murthy, they have two daughters together.
Rishi Sunak as Chancellor
Sunak was elected as an MP in 2015, becoming Chief Secretary to the Treasury in 2019. Boris Johnson made him Chancellor of the Exchequer in 2020.
Rishi Sunak during Covid
Sunak became a key member of the government during Covid, often appearing at press conferences and introducing the furlough scheme during the pandemic.
Rishi Sunak in the cabinet
Sunak remained Chancellor until resigning in July 2022, shortly before Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced he was stepping down.
Rishi Sunak leadership bid
After Boris stepped down, Sunak was one of many MPs who put themselves forward to become the new leader of the tory party. Despite getting to the final two candidates, party members voted for Liz Truss who became Prime Minister.
Rishi Sunak King Charles
When Liz Truss resigned after only 45 days as PM Rishi Sunak stood again. After Boris Johnson ruled himself out of the leadership contest race, and Penny Mordaunt withdrew her candidacy, Sunak was announced as the new Conservative leader on 24 October and was appointed by King Charles III the next day.