Rishi Sunak’s first speech as Prime Minister was one of longest delivered in Downing Street by a newly appointed prime minister in recent decades.
The freshly appointed Conservative leader warned the UK is facing a “profound economic crisis” in his first speech after being asked to form a Government by the King.
Over an hour after Ms Truss defended her botched economic strategy in her farewell speech from the Downing Street, Mr Sunak stood outside No 10 criticising her brief and chaotic tenure.
He spoke for five minutes and 56 seconds – longer than the time taken by nearly all of his predecessors when they made similar remarks at the start of their premiership.
The one exception is Boris Johnson, who spoke for 11 minutes and 13 seconds in Downing Street after being appointed prime minister in 2019.
5. Rishi Sunak makes a speech outside 10 Downing Street
Rishi Sunak makes a speech outside 10 Downing Street, London, after meeting King Charles III and accepting his invitation to become Prime Minister and form a new government. Photo: Gareth Fuller
6. Rishi Sunak at 10 Downing Street
Rishi Sunak’s first speech as Prime Minister was one of longest delivered in Downing Street by a newly appointed prime minister in recent decades. Photo: Gareth Fuller
7. Rishi Sunak makes a speech outside 10 Downing Street
In his speech from Downing Street, Mr Sunak said it was “only right to explain why I’m standing here as your new Prime Minister”, saying: “Right now our country is facing a profound economic crisis.” Photo: Stefan Rousseau
8. Rishi Sunak makes a speech outside 10 Downing Street
Rishi Sunak has pledged that his Government will have “integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level” as he pledged to earn the trust of the British public. Photo: Stefan Rousseau