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Rishi Sunak confirms he is having another shot at running for Prime Minister
Published 10:49 23 Oct 2022 BST
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Rishi Sunak confirms that he will be running in Tory leadership contest
Former chancellor Rishi Sunak, the man previously responsible for our economy, has announced his bid to replace Liz Truss as prime minister, just six weeks after she beat him to the top job.
It comes after more than 100 MPs have declared their support for Mr Sunak.
In a statement, he said: “The United Kingdom is a great country but we face a profound economic crisis.
“The choice our Party makes now will decide whether the next generation of British people will have more opportunities than the last.
https://twitter.com/RishiSunak/status/1584114970723512321
“That’s why I am standing to be your next Prime Minister and Leader of the Conservative Party. I want to fix our economy, unite our Party and deliver for our country. I served as your Chancellor, helping to steer our economy through the toughest of times.
“The challenges we face now are even greater. But the opportunities — if we make the right choice — are phenomenal. I have the track record of delivery, a clear plan to fix the biggest problems we face and I will deliver on the promise of the 2019 manifesto.
“There will be integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level of the government I lead and I will work day in and day out to get the job done. I am asking you for the opportunity to help fix our problems. To lead our Party and country forward towards the next General Election, confident in our record, firm in our convictions and ready to lead again”.
Boris Johnson and Mr Sunak were said to be locked in talks late into the evening as speculation mounted over whether the pair could strike a deal to lay the foundations for a unified Conservative government.
Mr Johnson was lagging behind his former chancellor in public support from MPs as Mr Sunak gained a valuable ally in Kemi Badenoch on Saturday, with backers of the ex-PM challenged over claims he had reached the number required to secure a spot on the Tory ballot paper.
Sir James Duddridge, a friend of Mr Johnson, said the former prime minister had the support of the 100 MPs required to reserve his place in the vote.
Mr Johnson has yet to declare if he will launch his own leadership bid – but reportedly texted one MP saying he was “up for it”.Cabinet member Nadhim Zahawi, who took the job as Boris Johnson's chancellor in July, only to tell him to "go now", has today backed the former PM - claiming he has changed since his premiership.
But Sunak supporter Richard Holden cast doubt on this suggestion, arguing that the equivalent number of public declarations had not been made “because they don’t exist”.
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