Rishi Sunak’s first speech as UK PM: What exactly did he say?

Right here is Sunak’s first speech as prime minister exterior 10 Downing Avenue.

Britain's new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak walks exterior Quantity 10 Downing Avenue in London [Henry Nicholls/Reuters]

Rishi Sunak has grow to be UK’s third prime minister inside 50 days, having been formally appointed by King Charles early on Tuesday.

Beneath is Sunak’s first speech as prime minister exterior his 10 Downing Avenue workplace:

“Good morning; I've simply been to Buckingham palace and accepted his majesty the king’s invitation to type a authorities in his identify.

“It’s solely proper to clarify why I’m standing right here as your new PM.

“Proper now, our nation is dealing with a profound financial disaster. The aftermath of COVID nonetheless lingers. Putin’s conflict in Ukraine has destabilised power markets and provide chains the world over.

“I wish to pay tribute to my predecessor Liz Truss. She was not improper to wish to enhance progress on this nation. It's a noble purpose. And I admired her restlessness to create change.

“However some errors had been made – not born of unwell will or dangerous intentions. Fairly the other, actually. However errors, nonetheless. And I've been elected as chief of my social gathering and your prime minister, partially to repair them, and that work begins instantly.

“I'll place financial stability and confidence on the coronary heart of this authorities’s agenda. It will imply tough choices to return.

“However you noticed me, throughout COVID, doing the whole lot I may to guard individuals and companies with schemes like furlough. There are all the time limits extra so now than ever, however I promise you this, I’ll convey that very same compassion to the challenges we face as we speak.

“The federal government I lead is not going to depart the following technology – your kids and grandchildren – with a debt to settle that we had been too weak to pay ourselves.

“I'll unite our nation not with phrases, however with motion. I'll work day in and time out to ship for you. This authorities could have integrity, professionalism, and accountability at each stage. Belief is earned and I'll earn yours.

“I'll all the time be grateful to Boris Johnson for his unimaginable achievements as prime minister, and I treasure his heat and generosity of spirit. And I do know he would agree that the mandate my social gathering earned in 2019 is just not the only property of anyone particular person. It's a mandate that belongs to and unites all of us. And the guts of that mandate is our manifesto. I'll ship on its promise.

“A stronger NHS, higher colleges, safer streets, management of our borders, defending our surroundings, supporting our armed forces, levelling up, and constructing an financial system that embraces the alternatives of Brexit the place companies make investments, innovate and create jobs.

“I perceive how tough this second is, after the billions of kilos it price us to fight COVID, after all of the dislocations that brought on within the midst of a horrible conflict that should be seen efficiently to its conclusions.

“I absolutely respect how onerous issues are, and I perceive, too, that I've work to do to revive belief in spite of everything that has occurred.

“All I can say is that I’m not daunted; I do know the excessive workplace I've accepted, and I hope to stay as much as its calls for, however when the chance to serve comes alongside, you can't query the second, solely your willingness, so I stand right here earlier than you prepared to guide our nation into the longer term, to place your wants above politics, to succeed in out and construct a authorities that represents the easiest traditions of my social gathering.

“Collectively we will obtain unimaginable issues; we'll create a future worthy of the sacrifices so many have made and fill tomorrow and on daily basis thereafter with hope.

“Thanks.”