UK political crisis live updates: Rishi Sunak tears into Labour at first PMQs, fends off attacks on his wife and wealth

Sunak is unlikely to enjoy much, if any, of a political honeymoon, as he inherits an array of problems.Markets -- and opposition parties -- are eagerly awaiting an October 31 Halloween fiscal statement from Hunt, which is likely to contain curbs on public spending to meet tens of billions of pounds in budget shortfalls.It will be accompanied by much-scrutinised independent assessments of the government's sums.Labour and others are expected to keep demanding a snap election -- not due until January 2025 at the latest -- given Sunak is the second prime minister in succession without a direct mandate from the electorate.Opposition parties have no way to force one, unless dozens of Conservative MPs agree, which appears unlikely as a flurry of polls show Labour with its largest lead in decades.

British prime minister Rishi Sunak will gather his newly appointed cabinet for the first time on Wednesday, a day after taking power with a promise to fix the mistakes of his predecessor and stabilise the economy. At the top of Sunak's agenda will be preparation for a fiscal statement, keenly anticipated by financial markets, which is scheduled for October 31 but which the Times newspaper reported could be pushed back by a few days. Asked about the timing of the statement, expected to set out how the government will plug a budget shortfall of as much as 40 billion pounds ($45.88 billion), foreign minister James Cleverly told Sky News he did not have a "specific confirmation" of the date. (Reuters)

Rishi Sunak will on Wednesday face off against opposition lawmakers for the first time as British prime minister, in a likely raucous parliamentary session following weeks of political turmoil.It comes after he took power Tuesday as the first UK leader of colour, vowing to repair the damage wrought by outgoing leader Liz Truss through her disastrous budget, which sparked economic carnage.Pledging also to unite his fractured Conservatives, and an increasingly unimpressed country, Sunak began his tenure by re-appointing a host of ministers from his predecessor's top team.

On a broader level, Indians have fared better economically than other minority groups in Britain.Indians earned an average of 14.43 pounds ($16.29) an hour, or 15.5% more than white British residents, in 2019, the latest figures available from the Office for National Statistics. By contrast, people from Pakistan and Bangladesh earned about 15% less than white people, and Black people earned 6.9% less.

Harmeet Singh Gill was excited to hear that Rishi Sunak would become Britain's first prime minister of color — news that came as he celebrated the Diwali festival in a London neighborhood sometimes called Little India.“It’s almost a watershed moment,” the 31-year-old said as he volunteered at the cavernous dome-topped house of worship that serves the Sikh community in west London's Southall neighborhood. “It’s just a sign of 21st-century Britain, where it doesn’t matter what background you’re from now, that you can rise up the ranks to the positions of power.”But, for many people of color in the UK, it's not so simple. Sunak, 42, will be the first Hindu and the first person of South Asian descent to lead the country, which has a long history of colonialism and has often struggled to welcome immigrants from its former colonies — and continues to grapple with racism and wealth inequality.King Charles III asked Sunak, whose parents moved to Britain from Africa in the 1960s, to form a new government Tuesday, a day after he was chosen leader of the governing Conservative Party.The milestone is doubly significant for many people with Asian roots because it comes during Diwali, the five-day festival of light celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains.

Rishi Sunak isn’t typical of the millions of people from Asian, African and Caribbean backgrounds who still face barriers in employment and education.The son of a doctor and a pharmacist, Sunak earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Oxford and a master’s in business administration from Stanford University before going to work for Goldman Sachs and then moving into the hedge fund industry, where he made a fortune in finance. He is married to Akshata Murty, daughter of Indian billionaire NR Narayana Murthy, founder of the global information technology company Infosys.Sunak was criticized earlier this year when British news media reported that his wife took advantage of rules allowing her to avoid U.K. taxes on her foreign income. She has since promised to give up her “non-domiciled” status and pay all her taxes in Britain.

Overall, Sunak sought to display a steady hand on the tiller by reviving the political careers of well-known Conservative politicians who had left government under the Truss and Boris Johnson administrations. Some 12 members of the new Cabinet served in David Cameron’s government between 2010 and 2016.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is now ready to face the hard work of government after appointing his senior ministerial team on Tuesday, a source in his office said, adding the new cabinet would ensure unity and stability through uncertain times.Sunak, who replaced Liz Truss as leader after her brief stint as prime minister ended in chaos, chose to not bring in a new finance or foreign minister but did appoint a mix of allies and former adversaries to senior positions.As Britain's third prime minister this year, Sunak faces a daunting list of problems, including how to tackle an economic crisis and how to unite and rebuild a fractured party whose reputation has been shredded by months of scandals and rows."The hard work begins now and together, the Prime Minister's new cabinet will deliver for the British people," a source in his Number 10 Downing Street said in a statement."This cabinet brings the talents of the party together," the source said. "It reflects a unified party and a cabinet with significant experience, ensuring that at this uncertain time there is continuity at the heart of government."

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt has tweeted after his reappointment this afternoon.“It is going to be tough,” he said. “But protecting the vulnerable -- and people’s jobs, mortgages and bills -- will be at the front of our minds as we work to restore stability, confidence and long-term growth.”He and Sunak have a major decision looming about whether to raise welfare payments in line with inflation. If they don’t, Britain’s poorest will face an even greater squeeze on their living standards.

British Indians were ecstatic that Rishi Sunak was to become the UK's first British Indian and Hindu PM saying it demonstrated how far the UK had come in multiculturalism and meritocracy. Many pointed out how auspicious it was that his rise to the most powerful position in the British government happened on Diwali.Lord Raminder Singh Ranger said: "Rishi has given Mother India, where his roots are, the biggest present ever on Diwali." He said the appointment to the highest position in the country demonstrated that "in Britain colour and race are no bar to success." He said British Indians would join the Conservative party "in droves now". "Sunak has shown self-sacrifice and that he has morals and he has demonstrated he will be a more effective PM. He only left Boris as he was not happy at laws being broken. He will uphold the highest office of the land with honour, dignity and respect."

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday made a congratulatory phone call to new British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the White House said.“The leaders agreed on the importance of working together to support Ukraine and hold Russia accountable for its aggression, address the challenges posed by China, and secure sustainable and affordable energy resources,” the White House said in a readout of the call.

Rishi Sunak officially became the UK prime minister and the country’s first British Indian, first non-white and first Hindu leader on Tuesday morning after being invited to form a government by King Charles III at Buckingham Palace. Sunak, age 42 years, is the youngest British PM in 210 years; Robert Jenkinson, the Earl of Liverpool, was younger when he took office in 1812 under King George III. The youngest remains William Pitt the Younger, PM at 24 in 1783.

New British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is considering delaying next week's planned fiscal statement in order to fill a hole of 40 billion pounds ($45.87 billion) in the UK's finances, the Times reported.Sunak is expected to meet finance minister Jeremy Hunt on Wednesday to discuss his proposals to increase taxes and squeeze public spending, the report said.

Newly appointed UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak held a conversation with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy and expressed UK's solidarity and support for the Ukrainian people."A privilege to speak to the President of Ukraine. Vladimir Zelenskyy this evening. Both he and the Ukrainian people can count on the UK's continued solidarity and support. We will always stand with Ukraine," Sunak tweeted following the conversation.