British leadership race: Rishi Sunak declares bid to be UK’s next prime minister
- Former finance chief announces bid to replace Liz Truss as PM, promises ‘integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level of the government I lead’
- Sunak has received more support from Conservative lawmakers than his rivals – former defence minister Penny Mordaunt and ex-PM Boris Johnson
“The United Kingdom is a great country but we face a profound economic crisis,” he said on Twitter. “That’s why I am standing to be leader of the Conservative Party and your next prime minister.”
Even before declaring on Sunday, Sunak had received more support from Conservative lawmakers than his rivals – former defence minister Penny Mordaunt and Johnson, who is attempting a comeback.
Sunak quit Johnson’s government in July, helping trigger a rebellion that bought him down.
“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,” he said in a statement. “I am asking you for the opportunity to help fix our problems.”
Sunak has the public backing of 128 Tory lawmakers, compared to Johnson’s 53 and 23 for cabinet member Mordaunt, who was the first to formally declare, on Friday.