Essex MPs react to new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

Mr Sunak completed a spectacular political comeback to become the next prime minister after rival Penny Mordaunt failed to win the backing of Tory MPs.

The former chancellor won the support of Conservative colleagues to succeed Liz Truss as Tory leader on Monday and will enter Downing Street less than two months after he lost the last race.

Mr Sunak will be the UK’s first Hindu prime minister, the first of Asian heritage, and the youngest for more than 200 years at the age of 42.

Mr Sunak is set to take up the role of prime minister

He will be formally appointed to the role in a handover of power overseen by the King within the coming days.

Ms Mordaunt, the Commons Leader, bowed out of the race as she failed to get the 100 nominations from Tory MPs required by the 2pm deadline.

With Boris Johnson having ditched his own bid at a comeback, Mr Sunak will enter No 10 unopposed and avoid an online ballot of the Conservative members that rejected him for Ms Truss last month.

He now has the daunting task of leading the nation through an economic crisis only exacerbated by the chaotic legacy of Ms Truss, who was ousted after only six weeks in office.

Colchester MP Will Quince, who had backed Mr Sunak for leader, extended his congratulations.

Both Witham MP Priti Patel and Braintree MP James Cleverly had backed Boris Johnson before he bowed out of the contest on Sunday night.

The pair switched allegiance and instead offered their support to Mr Sunak.

After the announcement Mr Cleverly, Foreign Secretary, said: “We have absolutely got to focus on the needs of the British people and that means focusing on work that means uniting round the Prime Minister.

“We have a duty. We don’t have the luxury of argument and division.

“We have a duty to focus on delivery for the British people. Now is the time for unity.

“I urge all my colleagues to give their full backing to Rishi Sunak.”

Clacton MP Giles Watling had backed Ms Mordaunt.