Rishi Sunak Announces Candidacy, Says Want To ‘Steer Economy Through Toughest Times’

London: Days after the previous PM Lizz Truss quit the position, former UK Finance Minister Rishi Sunak on Sunday announced his candidacy for the position of the leader of the Conservative Party as well as UK Prime Minister.

“… I am standing to be your next Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party. I want to fix our economy, unite our party and deliver for our country,” Sunak said in a statement.

He noted in the release that the UK faces a ‘profound economic crisis’ currently, adding that his stint previously as the Chancellor was spent “helping to steer our economy through the toughest of times.”.

Acknowledging challenges faced by the country, Sunak, however, hailed opportunities awaiting the country as ‘phenomenal’. “I have the track record of delivery, a clear plan to fix the problems we face and I will deliver on the promise of the 2019 manifesto,” the statement further read.

Sunak and former Prime Minister Boris Johnson are currently considered frontrunners for the Prime Ministerial post, with the 42-year-old Indian-origin MP having an edge due to backing from at least 100 Tory MPs of the Parliament over his rivals – Johnson, as well as ex-Cabinet Minister Penny Mordaunt.