Rishi Sunak, who pledged to “restore trust, rebuild the economy, and reunite the country,” has formally announced his candidacy to replace Boris Johnson.
The former chancellor promised today that his Tory leadership campaign will be built on “patriotism, fairness, and hard work” in a sophisticated video.
The 42-year-old has established a website as part of a very professional campaign launch, with the tagline “Ready For Rishi,” as he seeks to enter the race for the next prime minister early in what may turn out to be a brutal contest.
“Our country faces huge challenges, the most serious for a generation,” Mr. Sunak remarked. “Someone has to grip this moment and make the right decisions.”
‘Because the choices we make today will decide whether the next generation of British people will have more opportunities than the last.’
His campaign launch – the professional nature of which raised questions over the length of time Mr Sunak has been preparing a leadership bid – came less than three days after he quit as Chancellor in a dramatic move that precipitated Mr Johnson’s downfall as PM.
Mr Sunak quit as Treasury chief on Tuesday night within minutes of Sajid Javid’s resignation as health secretary, which prompted claims the pair had coordinated their bombshell exits from Mr Johnson’s Cabinet.
It was revealed today how Mr Sunak’s campaign website, www.ready4rishi.com, was registered on Wednesday – before Mr Johnson had declared he would be stepping down as PM.
In his resignation letter to Mr Johnson, Mr Sunak publicly questioned the PM’s competence and seriousness. He also described ‘fundamental’ differences between himself and Mr Johnson on economic policy.
The ex-Chancellor appeared to take another swipe at the outgoing PM in his campaign video.
With Britain in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis with households suffering from soaring inflation, Mr Sunak asked: ‘Do we confront this moment with honest, seriousness and determination?
‘Or do we tell ourselves comforting fairytales that might make us feel better in the moment, but will leave our children worse off tomorrow?
‘Someone has to grip this moment and make the right decisions.’
Mr. Sunak also discussed his family background in the video, mentioning how his grandparents immigrated to Britain in the 1960s from East Africa.
Before meeting his father, Yashvir, an NHS GP, his mother, Usha, trained to become a pharmacist, according to what he said.
Mr. Sunak was born and raised in Southampton before attending Stanford University and Oxford University in the US.
Yesterday, after the PM announced his retirement on the steps of Number 10, Mr. Sunak spent the evening with influential Conservatives at the Spectator magazine’s summer party.
The dispute surrounding Mr. Sunak’s family’s money and tax troubles earlier this year was thought to have gravely hurt his chances of succeeding Mr. Johnson.
As a result of the intense political controversy that his rich heiress wife Akshata Murty had provoked by having non-dom tax status, Mr. Sunak’s support among Tories fell precipitously.
Then, as part of the Metropolitan Police’s Partygate investigation, he was fined along with Mr. Johnson, dealing him yet another blow.
This week, Ms. Murty was captured on camera carrying hot beverages in mugs that cost £38 as well as nibbles to a news crew that was waiting outside of her and her husband’s London home.
Due to Mr. Sunak and his family’s riches, opposing Tory candidates may claim that he is not in the greatest position to understand how difficult it is for Britons to make ends meet.
There are concerns that the Conservative Party may be thrown into disorder for months as a result of the struggle to succeed Mr. Johnson.
Following the shock resignation of the prime minister, more than a dozen MPs are considering running for the position of leader, and ministers are concerned that they may “shred each other to pieces” to gain an edge.