Sunak vows to ‘fix mistakes’ in first speech as UK PM

Britain’s new leader Rishi Sunak pledged on Tuesday to restore trust in UK politics and “fix the mistakes” made under his predecessor Liz Truss in his first speech from Downing Street after he was appointed prime minister by King Charles III. Earlier, Truss wished Sunak “every success” in a brief farewell address. 

Sunak, the UK’s third leader this year, formally took power in an audience with King Charles III, who invited him to form a government in a meeting at Buckingham Palace. 

“I want to pay tribute to my predecessor Liz Truss. She was not wrong to want to improve growth in this country. It is a noble aim. And I admired her restlessness to create change,” Sunak said in his maiden address from Number 10. 

“But some mistakes were made – not born of ill will, or bad intentions. Quite the opposite, in fact. But mistakes, nonetheless. And I have been elected as leader of my party and your prime minister, in part to fix them,” he added. 

The 42-year-old Hindu is Britain’s first prime minister of colour and the youngest in more than two centuries. 

Sunak became the ruling Conservatives’ new leader on Monday after triumphing over rival contender Penny Mordaunt, who failed to secure enough nominations from Tory MPs. 
It had become a two-way fight after Johnson dramatically aborted a comeback attempt late Sunday, having failed to persuade Sunak to share power. 

Breaking his silence, Johnson offered his “full and wholehearted support” to Sunak -- having blamed his ex-minister for toppling him in July. 
AFP.com, 25 Oct, 2022