the conservative commons because the conservative still nominally have a very large majority of about 70 so there will be a real attention on whether labour decide that that new prime minister, the moment they are in store, whether to push the nuclear button, call a vote of no confidence and see how many conservatives will vote for it. you would imagine none will put it will show that are ne . ative will put it will show that are negative about _ will put it will show that are negative about stability does the argument potentially get turned on them in that it is effectively your turmoil in the short term? yes because general— turmoil in the short term? 133 because general election campaigns, we are looking at a minimum of four weeks and that'll be incredibly short. argument labour would make is probably that, sort of like this conservative mps have done, short—term disruption is better overall for the country rather than something that drags on and unlike would have happened if liz truss had refused to go and we were still

having conversations about how they were trying to unseat her. absolutely there is a real appetite from those people for politicians to get on with the job but the question is if the conservative poll ratings are now 20% or a sub that then really whether you think the best thing for the government currently in power is to exist with such low popularity but struggle for the next two years. the question is, can rishi sunak turn it around? probably, but how much, we will see. when we talk about politics and government, we talk about the key figures, the prime minister, the chancellor, but what we have seen happening is key political mum is happening is key political mum is happening with very little time for the incoming person to actually put their stamp on what is being done. for instance, jeremy hunt was parachuted into the treasury and then we immediately had that sledgehammer to the mini budget. there is a lot that goes on notjust in terms of them say what they want to happen within the civil service,

around what the choices are, the direction of travel. we are going to have a new prime minister, it looks like it will be at rishi sunak, but in a week there will be that fiscal statement. very little time for it to be done. in shape that's perhaps he would be able to fully put his stamp on it. took us through a bit about how all of that works. we journalists _ about how all of that works. - journalists were in the lobby briefing last week and we asked the spokesperson, has a prime minister even had a chance to fully unpack yet? there is a great deal of upheaval that is involved in replacing a prime minister and conservative leader. what we probably expect is it will be tomorrow when the prime minister goes. in terms of resignation. that is if penny mordaunt doesn't manage to get 100 nominees. we are waiting to get 100 nominees. we are waiting to find out and about half an hour whether she does. 0ne to find out and about half an hour whether she does. one of her supporters said an hour ago that they were propelling towards 100,

they were propelling towards 100, they had about 90. only 20 or 30 of those are public so far. i think she has had one switch from boris johnson so there is a huge golf to go and there will be that turnaround very quickly when rishi sunak, if it is him, will have about a week before the 31st of october, the halloween fiscal event, when he will presumably have to lay out if he is going to roll back any of the pledge the chancellor has made and then there are questions about the operation. there are questions about the operation-— there are questions about the oeration. ., ~ i. , . there are questions about the oeration. ., ~ , . . operation. thank you very much. we have not got — operation. thank you very much. we have not got long — operation. thank you very much. we have not got long to _ operation. thank you very much. we have not got long to wait. _ operation. thank you very much. we have not got long to wait. the - have not got long to wait. the helicopters are out watching the overhead picture as we wait to find out what will happen with that ballot. welcome back to bbc news. in the next 15 minutes, nominations close in the contest to become the next leader of the conservative party and the uk's next prime minister — the third in seven weeks. rishi sunak is the firm favourite — he has a commanding

lead of tory mps. at the last count, 193 of them had publicly endorsed him. that's more than half the parliamentary party and well over the minimum required, which is 100. but the real question is whether the only other contender — penny mordaunt — can also get 100 tory mps to back her. she currently has 26 publicly declared backers — far short of the 100 required. if she does make the numbers, there will be a vote of conservative mps this afternoon indicating support, and then the wider conservative party membership will vote this week. well, we haven't got long to wait for the official numbers: sir graham brady, chairman of the 1922 group of tory backbenchers, will make the announcement shortly.

let's go live to westminster and join our deputy political editor chris mason, who is in central lobby. last—minute scramble for votes. in the next ten or 15 minutes, the window will slam closed. penny mordaunt�*s campaign have been doing their utmost all money to get their numbers up and up and up and as close to, and ideally from their perspective, over that threshold of 100. their publicly declared supporters are much lower than that. but they have been telling me in the last hour that they are within a whisker of doing it, of making it to that magic number. we have no way of independently verifying that, but crucially, those mps who might be willing to back her do not have to say so publicly. and some might want to hedge their bets in terms of what they say publicly, conscious that they say publicly, conscious that the wind does look like it is blowing in a different direction and it could be rishi sunak either

sooner or later, in other words prime minister by the end of the week if he is not confirmed as heading in that direction in the next half hour. so a huge amount of persuading has been going on. one twist in the last half hour— george freeman, conservative mp who had been a backer of penny mordaunt, telling the bbc this lunchtime that in hisjudgment, it was telling the bbc this lunchtime that in his judgment, it was worthwhile that she should fold, she should packin that she should fold, she should pack in her campaign in the interests of conservative unity and interests of conservative unity and in the interests of stability for the country, that protecting this ongoing battle within the conservative party was not, in his view, in the national interest. and this from one of her leading supporters. we may never know how close team mordaunt have got if they fall short. close team mordaunt have got if they fallshort. if close team mordaunt have got if they fall short. if they make it, of course, we will know that some of this briefing in the last couple of hours had significance to it. i have been told by figures at the top of

penny mordaunt�*s campaign that they were convinced they were very close. so keen were they to make the case in the last hour that they only needed to persuade a handful more to ensure that there was a vote this afternoon. so we await the outcome from sir graham brady in the next half hour to determine whether or not we know who our next prime minister will be, assuming office as soon as tomorrow, or that there is to be a vote this afternoon after hustings in front of conservative mps. then the vote would be around teatime this afternoon to work out where the balance of opinion lies within the conservative party if there are two candidates who meet there are two candidates who meet the threshold, before, assuming neither of them was to withdraw at that point, the two names go forward to the party membership for an online poll to take place in the next couple of days before a result on friday. next couple of days before a result on frida . , ., ., ., on friday. chris, if that vote of wider tory _ on friday. chris, if that vote of wider tory party _ on friday. chris, if that vote of

wider tory party members - on friday. chris, if that vote of| wider tory party members does happen, how much does that change things? at the moment, rishi sunak has the commanding lead and is the favourite, but but how much does it change for penny mordaunt if it gets to the wider membership? it changes it completely — to the wider membership? it changes it completely because _ to the wider membership? it changes it completely because it _ to the wider membership? it changes it completely because it opens - to the wider membership? it changes it completely because it opens the i it completely because it opens the whole thing up again. it was a giant question mark over both of their names rather than what has become something of an assumption since last night, when borisjohnson withdrew, that it was highly likely to be rishi sunak. suddenly, it wouldn't be that clear. why? well, the electorate expands massively. still, of course, a tiny, tiny proportion of the population at large, around 160,000 people being canvassed rather rapidly online in the next couple of days. we would hear about the prospectuses for government from the two candidates. perhaps they would pop up on television and make their cases publicly. i am sure they would if they were courting the views of conservative members well as making a pitch to the country at large. and penny mordaunt�*s team say they would have reason to be confident that

they might be able to win. 0ne have reason to be confident that they might be able to win. one other factor to bear in mind, and this was baked into the contest�*s rules at the tail end of last week, is that even though there are only going to be two candidates maximum, come 2.15 this afternoon, there will still be that the vote of conservative mps because there was a view taken within the party that it was important that there was an indicative vote to indicate to the membership where the balance of power at westminster lay in terms of where support late. why? because whilst the current rules say a leadership race is ultimately decided by the members, the practicality of governing and holding a party together means you have to be able to command a majority amongst your own mps. and to illustrate that, we can point to the case studies of the current prime minister and the former one, both of whom lost the confidence of their party and in the end, that

meant they were on their way out of downing street. so the rules are trying to account for that by ensuring that if the membership do get a say, do so in full knowledge of where the balance of opinion lies in parliament. does that mean the members would follow the guidance of their mps at westminster? not necessarily. so there would be a huge amount ofjeopardy, and the campaigning and arguments would be flushed out in the next couple of days and we would have to wait until the end of the week to determine who our prime minister would be. normally, the end of the week for a new prime minister would seem a short time frame, the speed of british politics at the moment, that would suddenly seem like a distant horizon compared with the prospect in as little as 20 minutes or so, finding out who our prime minister might be as soon as tomorrow. but whoever and whenever it is, they face really daunting challenges. they really do. and we should remember that because for all of the

circus around westminster in the last seven weeks, and remember, we will end up with a third prime minister in seven weeks by the end of this week however the next half hour pans out, they will inherit an in—tray that is a daunting as the one that finished off borisjohnson, in its own way, and absolutely finished off liz truss. so they will face a party that is not united. just take the 60 odd public declarations for borisjohnson, for instance, roughly equivalent to the majority of the conservatives have. i'm not saying that all of those who backed boris johnson i'm not saying that all of those who backed borisjohnson would be disloyal within nanoseconds, they wouldn't. but it is an indication that they would rather have had the guy they kicked out seven weeks ago rather than rishi sunak or penny mordaunt. then you have spiralling rises and grim public finances. you have that economic statement pencilled in for a week today, with the expectation of significant spending cuts being announced in multiple whitehall departments. and you have a party that has been in

government for 12 years and is showing its age in terms of its time in government. so a massive challenge for a new prime minister. of course, now we know it isn't going to be borisjohnson who won the majority of the party leader for the majority of the party leader for the conservatives at the last general election, the questions around legitimacy and mandate for the new prime minister will be instant and we are already seeing that clamour from the opposition parties, demanding that there should be a general election. a general election lies in the gift of a prime minister or in the gift of a majority of people in the house of commons, in other words, majority of people in the house of commons, in otherwords, a significant proportion of the governing party. at the moment the conservatives will stare at the opinion polls and think a general election is the last thing they would want. but there are one or two now publicly say, christopher chope being one of them, saying that maybe, given that legitimacy is a question, a bee that is what should happen. we question, a bee that is what should ha en. ~ , question, a bee that is what should hauen,. , happen. we will be back with you shortl , happen. we will be back with you shortly. chris. — happen. we will be back with you shortly, chris. in _ happen. we will be back with you

shortly, chris. in the _ happen. we will be back with you shortly, chris. in the meantime, | shortly, chris. in the meantime, let's go to vicki young, who is in downing street. so a three horse race became a two—horse race last night when borisjohnson dropped out, but penny mordaunt has it all to do. what are you hearing about the numbers? in to do. what are you hearing about the numbers?— the numbers? in my way here, i walked through _ the numbers? in my way here, i walked through parliament - the numbers? in my way here, i walked through parliament and l the numbers? in my way here, i - walked through parliament and bumped into several conservative mps, some of the cabinet, some ministers and former ministers. most of them supported rishi sunak, which is borne out by those numbers. the overwhelming feeling, not surprisingly, is that they want penny mordaunt to stand down even if she gets the numbers. we have demonstrated notjust today but over the weekend that the conservative party is effectively still talking to itself. they did that all summer, and what alarm is a lot of tory mps and what alarm is a lot of tory mp5 is that they will be looking at this and thinking, we have so many problems to deal with and they can't even decide who their leader will

be. the idea that it is protracted even longer to fridayjust makes them very fearful that the public, if it hasn't already lost patience, that they will get increasingly frustrated by this. we have had no talk of policy, have we? i don't think rishi sunak has spoken since he lost to liz truss, apart from a couple of debates in the house of commons on local constituency issues. she did an interview yesterday, penny mordaunt, and when asked about policy, was unable to answer anything about what she would do and this is in the middle of what has become an economic crisis. so there is a lot of frustration from conservative mps. they want to get on with it. they want to talk about unity because they want their party to stay together and the idea that evenif to stay together and the idea that even if penny mordaunt were to get just over 100 backers, that it then goes to the party membership and they may then go against what the elementary party would do, they think thatjust adds elementary party would do, they think that just adds to elementary party would do, they think thatjust adds to the disunity and infighting which everyone predicts is going to be difficult enough as it is because not only is

there all this bad blood which has built up since the days of brexit, but what a new prime minister is going to have to do will not go down well with their own party. it is going to involve difficult decisions. we have heard that from jeremy hunt, who is expected by most as chancellor, although not guaranteed. rishi sunak, if he were to win, has already said there are going to be eye—wateringly difficult decisions and to get there is to parliament you will need a party thatis parliament you will need a party that is very much together and pulling on the same direction. whoever it is whenever it is, the new prime minister will walk through that famous door behind you in the too distant future and itjust highlights, as crisp as saying, the third prime minister in seven weeks, the tremendous political volatility here in the country at the moment, which has attracted headlines right across the world?— across the world? yes, and we do talk a lot about, _

across the world? yes, and we do talk a lot about, gosh, _ across the world? yes, and we do talk a lot about, gosh, this - across the world? yes, and we do talk a lot about, gosh, this is - talk a lot about, gosh, this is unusual, it is unprecedented but you have an —— you and i have spoken about this over the is are nothing like this has happened, this turnover of prime ministers, not the leaders of the opposition or cabinet ministers but prime ministers, it has been incredibly volatile. it has been disruptive and of course whilst there are lots of ministers still getting on with theirjobs, the civil service still making sure everything is running, no big decisions are being made that happen door during the summer and it is happening again and that i think is a major problem for the conservative party. it is certainly what is worrying lots of mps who are beginning to fear that the electorate is giving up on them. so the challenge for the person who comes in, whoever that is, is to reassure the country once again, reassure the country once again, reassure the country once again, reassure the markets, get a grip of what is going on but their situation as far as the economy a concerned is worse than what it was because of

what happened with the mini—budget. so it is notjust a matter of undoing that but filling the hole, talking about spending cuts, for example, and all of that due to come just in a weak pulse that time. so they will have to get straight into it to reassure people. {lilla they will have to get straight into it to reassure people.— they will have to get straight into it to reassure people. ok, for the moment, thank _ it to reassure people. ok, for the moment, thank you. _ it to reassure people. ok, for the moment, thank you. we - it to reassure people. ok, for the moment, thank you. we are - it to reassure people. ok, for the i moment, thank you. we are looking it to reassure people. ok, for the - moment, thank you. we are looking at pictures from the houses of parliament, the committee room where we will hear that an announcement of the nominations sometime after 2.00 which is when they're close from sir graham brady of the 1922 committee of backbenchers and the committee room has been quite a familiar sight in recent weeks. we can go back to chris mason, our political editor who is in the houses of parliament. talk us through exactly what happens next and the various permutations. sir graham brady has become more of a star than ant and dec, we saw plenty of him over the summer when

he would appear on an almost daily basis telling us who was eliminated. he was there just the other day setting out the rules for this contest, shortly after liz truss had announced her resignation. and here he comes again, limbering up in a side room no doubt right now, ahead of his appearance in the next ten or 15 minutes, to set out who has crossed that threshold of 100 backers. we know because of the public declarations that rishi sunak is miles beyond that. so that element of it won't be news. crucially, what we will discover is whether or not penny mordaunt is also on that piece of paper that graham brady will take out from his jacket pocket. that will determine whether or not we can say within 15 minutes who our next prime minister will be forced by the way, we should point out, they don't become prime minister instantly. remember, this is a race to be leader of the conservative party. they become

conservative party. they become conservative party. they become conservative party leader on winning that race but they only become prime minister having been invited in to see the king and asked to form a government. are we receiving news? i think we are... the development here. let mejust think we are... the development here. let me just click on a twitter link here, if it's going to open up. we are hearing penny mordaunt has withdrawn. , ., ., , withdrawn. there you go, so rishi sunak will be _ withdrawn. there you go, so rishi sunak will be our _ withdrawn. there you go, so rishi sunak will be our next _ withdrawn. there you go, so rishi sunak will be our next prime - sunak will be our next prime minister, ourthird prime minister in a matter of seven weeks. this extraordinary period of time out in british politics, its next chapter marked now with confirmation from penny mordaunt that she is withdrawing from this race or hasn't made the nominations, i haven't yet managed to read exactly what she is saying. the crucial detail here, at 2.00 is penny mordaunt is out. the conservative leadership race is over. rishi sunak is going to be our

next prime minister. let’s over. rishi sunak is going to be our next prime minister.— next prime minister. let's “ust read out what is — next prime minister. let's “ust read out what is on i next prime minister. let's “ust read out what is on the h next prime minister. let's “ust read out what is on the screen _ next prime minister. let'sjust read out what is on the screen there. - next prime minister. let'sjust read | out what is on the screen there. our party member should know this proposition has been fairly and thoroughly tested by the agreed 1922 process. so penny mordaunt they're dropping out and leaving it until the very last minute, chris mason? what out and leaving it until the very last minute, chris mason? what an incredible moment. _ last minute, chris mason? what an incredible moment. literally- last minute, chris mason? what an incredible moment. literally the i incredible moment. literally the last minute as we are approaching two o'clock, at the point where the window was about to slam shut for any conservative wannabe to assemble 100 nominations to stand for the leadership. comejust as 100 nominations to stand for the leadership. come just as the window

was about to slam shut, confirmation from penny mordaunt to show she had listened to those in her party to withdraw from the contest in the interest of certainty and stability and so with that moment happening, rishi sunak set to be prime minister. short of someone managing to run a campaign none of us have heard of an assembly nominations, rishi sunak expected to be confirmed as new conservative leader in the next few minutes is the only candidate to have both cleared the threshold and wanted to continue. therefore he will become conservative leader and then there will be a conversation about the choreography with which we are becoming ratherfamiliar choreography with which we are becoming rather familiar this autumn, where liz truss will contact buckingham palace. my understanding is the king returns to london this evening, and can arrange an

appointment with his majesty in order to tender her resignation. i suspect that will probably happen tomorrow, at which point, as is constitutional convention, the phone rings to the leader of the largest party at westminster, the person that can command a majority in the house of commons and on that basis, rishi sunak will be invited to the palace and invited to form a government. another government, another new conservative government, facing so many of the same challenges we spoke about a few moments ago that liz truss faced. september's lose are becoming october's winner, rishi sunak becoming prime minister. let’s october's winner, rishi sunak becoming prime minister. let's “ust reflect on becoming prime minister. let's “ust reflect on that �* becoming prime minister. let's “ust reflect on that whilst i becoming prime minister. let's “ust reflect on that whilst we * becoming prime minister. let's “ust reflect on that whilst we wait h becoming prime minister. let'sjust reflect on that whilst we wait for . reflect on that whilst we wait for sir graham brady and the door is opening there. yes, here we go, we can listen in.

good afternoon. as a returning officer— good afternoon. as a returning officer in — good afternoon. as a returning officer in the leadership election, i can_ officer in the leadership election, i can confirm that we have received one valid _ i can confirm that we have received one valid nomination. rishi sunak is therefore elected as leader— rishi sunak is therefore elected as leader of— rishi sunak is therefore elected as leader of the conservative party. cheering you may wish to know the new leader of the _ you may wish to know the new leader of the party— you may wish to know the new leader of the party will address as in this room _ of the party will address as in this room at _ of the party will address as in this room at 2.30. thank you. there _ room at 2.30. thank you. there we _ room at 2.30. thank you. there we are, confirmation, what we already knew, because penny mordaunt had dropped out of the race at the last moment. rishi sunak is the next leader of the conservative party and set to become the next prime minister of the united kingdom. so what was originally a three horse race, with borisjohnson and penny

mordaunt, ended up as a one—horse race because borisjohnson pulled out last night and then penny mordauntjust a a few moments before that announcement of nominations at 2.00, she pulled out as well because she was well short of the 100 minimum that she required. so let's go back to chris mason, our political editor. we have seen some extraordinary moments in the last few weeks in british politics and i suppose none more extraordinary than this in the sense that rishi sunak lost the contest to liz truss. he could have barely dreamt at that stage, that moment of defeat, that just a few weeks later he would be replacing her as tory party leader and british prime minister. it is tuite and british prime minister. it 3 quite astonishing, isn't it? the guy who was defeated by the current prime minister is replacing her a matter of weeks after she took office. that will take place in the next 24—hour is. rishi sunak, the man who campaigned all summer as the

underdog monks can conservative party members on that trudge around town halls and exhibition centres, many hustings as the underdog, defeated by liz truss. to see the programme of government from her that he critiqued collapse within the first few weeks of her trying to implement it and here he is on the brink of replacing her and becoming prime minister. confirmed that he is the new conservative party leader. we are into one of those windows where we have a different conservative party leader from conservative party leader from conservative prime minister, he assumes one title before he can assumes one title before he can assume the other. as we had from sir graham brady, he will be going in front of his mps, his parliamentary party, in the next half—an—hour or so in order to make the case for the government he is about to lead. we know he has the support of a majority of conservative mps who are

willing to publicly endorse him before this moment. the big challenge now for the conservative party is the extent to which they can rally around a new prime minister. they were not doing that in the final weeks and months of borisjohnson' tenure or for boris johnson' tenure or for anything borisjohnson' tenure or for anything but the first 45 minutes of liz truss' tenure. their challenge now is to what extent can the power to unite around rishi sunak? because the challenge he faces in government is towering. all of the things we talked about a few minutes ago. the situation with the public finances, they are grim. spiralling prices that we all know about. a party that has been very, very lacking in unity, to put it at its gentlest and then the fact the conservatives have beenin then the fact the conservatives have been in government for a long time and are beginning to show that age in office, if you like. so all of those challenges, coupled with the fact the opposition parties will say rishi sunak never won an election. and those that will say rishi sunak hasn't said anything publicly shy of

a tweet and instagram post saying he was running for the leadership since the point he declared again that he wanted to be prime minister. so he has a big job to do in terms of introducing himself to the country, vertically those who may not have paid that much attention to him over the summer, when it looked highly likely that he would not win anyway. so a massive challenge for him to come. but also we should reflect, and it moment of extraordinary triumph for him, as it was the liz truss several weeks ago. to reach the top of politics and lead the country is a huge achievement. there are plenty in this post had the dream of it and very few have the privilege of being able to do it. he will be able to do that and start doing that as soon as tomorrow. another moment of history worth marking, the first person of colour to be the british prime minister. again, a moment that will make history. for him, then, what starts

now with his pitch to conservative mps in the next half an hour and the hours after that is assembling a government. to what extent does he change things, change things significantly or not, put his stamp on the party, whilst emphasising a desire forflexibility? i'm looking out of shot occasionally in the hope we can grab a word with the foreign secretary, james cleverley. but he is currently tied up talking to someone else. as soon as i had grabbed him, iwill let someone else. as soon as i had grabbed him, i will let him someone else. as soon as i had grabbed him, iwill let him know someone else. as soon as i had grabbed him, i will let him know —— and let you know and we can have a chat with him.— chat with him. that would be good, we will come _ chat with him. that would be good, we will come back— chat with him. that would be good, we will come back to _ chat with him. that would be good, we will come back to you _ chat with him. that would be good, we will come back to you when - chat with him. that would be good, we will come back to you when that is possible. now deputy political editor is in downing street. so, rishi sunak will be the occupant of that building behind you very shortly first we don't know exactly when. but there is, as chris mason was just telling us, when. but there is, as chris mason wasjust telling us, the when. but there is, as chris mason was just telling us, the question of democratic legitimacy, that the opposition are raising at the moment, saying there needs to be a general election because this new prime minister is too removed from the tory leader who won the last general election.—

the tory leader who won the last general election. yes, absolutely, that is what _ general election. yes, absolutely, that is what the _ general election. yes, absolutely, that is what the opposition - general election. yes, absolutely, that is what the opposition want. l that is what the opposition want. there are a couple of conservative mps who are saying the same thing about a mandate to govern, to bring in these very difficult policies, potentially. but of course that is not how the system works. there was an election in 2019 and it meant the conservative party was and still is in control of the house of commons. so that means that they get to choose the leader. of course, there are plenty of voters who want a say it but if it goes right to the wire, then actually, to the end of 2024. thank you for the moment. we will go back to chris mason inside the houses of parliament because as he was telling us, i think he has got an interview with james cleverley with some reaction.— an interview with james cleverley with some reaction. indeed so. let me introduce _ with some reaction. indeed so. let me introduce james _ with some reaction. indeed so. let me introduce james cleverley, - with some reaction. indeed so. let me introduce james cleverley, the | me introduce james cleverley, the foreign secretary does them good afternoon to stop your reaction, rishi sunak to be our next prime minister? i rishi sunak to be our next prime minister? ~ ., ., ., minister? i think what we have all wanted is for _ minister? i think what we have all wanted is for the _ minister? i think what we have all wanted is for the government - minister? i think what we have all wanted is for the government to i minister? i think what we have all i wanted is for the government to be relentlessly focused on the domestic

and international issues that confrant— and international issues that confront us all. stability, focus on good _ confront us all. stability, focus on good government, these are absolutely the right things and now that we _ absolutely the right things and now that we know we have got some certainty, — that we know we have got some certainty, i_ that we know we have got some certainty, i think it's a very positive _ certainty, i think it's a very positive move. ithink certainty, i think it's a very positive move. i think even another week's— positive move. i think even another week's worth of delay would have been _ week's worth of delay would have been counter—productive, so i'm very pleased _ been counter—productive, so i'm very pleased we _ been counter—productive, so i'm very pleased we will now be able to focus on things— pleased we will now be able to focus on things that matter, which is working — on things that matter, which is working for the british people. help me out here — working for the british people. help, me out here because this time yesterday you were supporting boris johnson, you didn't want rishi sunak as prime minister?— johnson, you didn't want rishi sunak as prime minister? boris decided not to stand. as prime minister? boris decided not to stand- what _ as prime minister? boris decided not to stand. what i _ as prime minister? boris decided not to stand. what i have _ as prime minister? boris decided not to stand. what i have always - as prime minister? boris decided not to stand. what i have always said - as prime minister? boris decided not to stand. what i have always said is. to stand. what i have always said is the job— to stand. what i have always said is the job of— to stand. what i have always said is the job of prime minister needs experience. remember, i had suggested in the summer that i felt that boris— suggested in the summer that i felt that borisjohnson suggested in the summer that i felt that boris johnson should suggested in the summer that i felt that borisjohnson should stay. he chose _ that borisjohnson should stay. he chose not — that borisjohnson should stay. he chose not to run. rishi is the candidate, _ chose not to run. rishi is the candidate, was the candidate with the most — candidate, was the candidate with the most experience. he is a smart and talented guy and i have no doubt that he _ and talented guy and i have no doubt that he will_ and talented guy and i have no doubt that he will build a team that now focus _ that he will build a team that now focus on — that he will build a team that now focus on what we should always be focused _ focus on what we should always be focused on. — focus on what we should always be focused on, which is the british people — focused on, which is the british tteole. ~ ., ,, focused on, which is the british tteole.~ ., focused on, which is the british tteole.~ . ., ., people. what you say to our viewer who has looked _ people. what you say to our viewer who has looked in _ people. what you say to our viewer who has looked in on _

people. what you say to our viewer who has looked in on what's - people. what you say to our viewer i who has looked in on what's happened in the last few weeks and comes to the reasonable minded conclusion that it has been complete shambles? no one, no one would want to see what _ no one, no one would want to see what we _ no one, no one would want to see what we have seen over the last few months _ what we have seen over the last few months it's— what we have seen over the last few months. it's been difficult, it's been _ months. it's been difficult, it's been painful. i have been dealing with my— been painful. i have been dealing with my international counterparts. with all _ with my international counterparts. with all the challenges going on around — with all the challenges going on around the globe, and of course what they want _ around the globe, and of course what they want is— around the globe, and of course what they want is they want the uk government, they want britain to once _ government, they want britain to once again — government, they want britain to once again be the rock of stability. they've _ once again be the rock of stability. they've been laughing as, haven't they come overseas we have become a laughing stock? what has gone on has been painful, but now— what has gone on has been painful, but now it _ what has gone on has been painful, but now it comes to an end. we focus on the _ but now it comes to an end. we focus on the people and delivering good government and supporting our friends — government and supporting our friends in — government and supporting our friends in ukraine and the other global— friends in ukraine and the other global issues i have to deal with day in. — global issues i have to deal with day in, day out. but global issues i have to deal with day in. day out-— day in, day out. but can you convince — day in, day out. but can you convince us _ day in, day out. but can you convince us right _ day in, day out. but can you convince us right now - day in, day out. but can you convince us right now that l day in, day out. but can you l convince us right now that the day in, day out. but can you - convince us right now that the tory psychodrama is over, you are actually going to focus on governing the country, all of this fighting like rats in a sack is done and

dusted? ~ , ., dusted? well, there is no point in the of the summer. _ dusted? well, there is no point in the of the summer. the _ dusted? well, there is no point in the of the summer. the only - dusted? well, there is no point in| the of the summer. the only thing now in_ the of the summer. the only thing now in the — the of the summer. the only thing now in the minds of my conservative parliamentary colleagues should be supporting the prime minister, the government, the british people and our friends — government, the british people and our friends internationally. that should — our friends internationally. that should he — our friends internationally. that should be the only thing we think about _ should be the only thing we think about~ h— should be the only thing we think about. �* . ., , should be the only thing we think about. �* .., , ., should be the only thing we think about. ~ _, , ., ., should be the only thing we think about. ~ , ., ., ., , about. a couple of final thoughts. what about _ about. a couple of final thoughts. what about the _ about. a couple of final thoughts. what about the argument - about. a couple of final thoughts. what about the argument from i about. a couple of final thoughts. | what about the argument from the opposition parties think that i know opposition parties think that i know opposition parties think that i know opposition parties always call for a general election, but they will argue that people who voted conservative in 2019 did so with borisjohnson on the ticket. now they have not only got his successor, they have got his successor�*s successor and there is a legitimacy question there. who elected this guy who is about to become prime minister?- elected this guy who is about to become prime minister? well, the “ob ofthe become prime minister? well, the “ob of the prime — become prime minister? well, the “ob of the prime minister d become prime minister? well, the “ob of the prime minister in i become prime minister? well, the “ob of the prime minister in orderfi become prime minister? well, the “ob of the prime minister in order to i of the prime minister in order to remain— of the prime minister in order to remain in— of the prime minister in order to remain in office is to be able to enjoy— remain in office is to be able to enjoy the — remain in office is to be able to enjoy the confidence of the parliamentary party. rishi has shown through— parliamentary party. rishi has shown through the numbers today that he has the _ through the numbers today that he has the overwhelming support of the parliamentary party. of course

opposition parties will call for a general— opposition parties will call for a general election and if they want to put in _ general election and if they want to put in for— general election and if they want to put in for a — general election and if they want to put in for a vote of no confidence, they— put in for a vote of no confidence, they have — put in for a vote of no confidence, they have the right to do so. but what _ they have the right to do so. but what i _ they have the right to do so. but what i think the british people want and deserve is a government that is focused _ and deserve is a government that is focused on — and deserve is a government that is focused on delivering for the british— focused on delivering for the british people and that is what we are going — british people and that is what we are going to do. fine british people and that is what we are going to do-— british people and that is what we are going to do. one reflection for ou, ifi are going to do. one reflection for you. if i may. _ are going to do. one reflection for you, if i may. this _ are going to do. one reflection for you, if i may. this is _ are going to do. one reflection for you, if i may. this is a _ are going to do. one reflection for you, if i may. this is a moment i are going to do. one reflection for you, ifi may. this is a moment in| you, if i may. this is a moment in history, a first person of colour becoming british prime minister, which is quite a moment.- which is quite a moment. well, ethnic diversity _ which is quite a moment. well, ethnic diversity in _ which is quite a moment. well, ethnic diversity in high - which is quite a moment. well, ethnic diversity in high office i ethnic diversity in high office within— ethnic diversity in high office within the conservative party is nothing — within the conservative party is nothing new. but the fact of the matter— nothing new. but the fact of the matter is — nothing new. but the fact of the matter is that this is the first time — matter is that this is the first time for— matter is that this is the first time for a _ matter is that this is the first time for a prime minister. i am pleased — time for a prime minister. i am pleased but frankly unsurprised that it has _ pleased but frankly unsurprised that it has happened with the conservatives, because we have always— conservatives, because we have always been the party of meritocracy and hard _ always been the party of meritocracy and hard work. rishi is an incredibly hard—working and smart -uy. incredibly hard—working and smart guy~ so _ incredibly hard—working and smart guy. so very pleased, but that is not the — guy. so very pleased, but that is not the thing that leaps to the forefront of my mind because we have -ot forefront of my mind because we have got work _ forefront of my mind because we have got work to _ forefront of my mind because we have got work to do. titre forefront of my mind because we have got work to do-— got work to do. are you staying on as foreign — got work to do. are you staying on as foreign secretary? _ got work to do. are you staying on as foreign secretary? have - got work to do. are you staying on as foreign secretary? have you i got work to do. are you staying on | as foreign secretary? have you still got a job? the

as foreign secretary? have you still tota'ob? ., ., got a job? the composition of government _ got a job? the composition of government is _ got a job? the composition of government is something i got a job? the composition of government is something for| got a job? the composition of. government is something for the got a job? the composition of- government is something for the new prime _ government is something for the new prime minister. he has not yet even been _ prime minister. he has not yet even been asked — prime minister. he has not yet even been asked by his majesty to form a government. but been asked by his ma'esty to form a government.— been asked by his ma'esty to form a tovernment. �* , _, ., , government. but these conversations ha- ten, government. but these conversations happen. you — government. but these conversations happen. you have _ government. but these conversations happen, you have been _ government. but these conversations happen, you have been talking i government. but these conversations happen, you have been talking to i government. but these conversations happen, you have been talking to mej happen, you have been talking to me about stability and you can't even tell me if you are going to be foreign secretary tomorrow? ihla tell me if you are going to be foreign secretary tomorrow? no one knows how long — foreign secretary tomorrow? no one knows how long they _ foreign secretary tomorrow? no one knows how long they will _ foreign secretary tomorrow? no one knows how long they will be - foreign secretary tomorrow? no one knows how long they will be in i foreign secretary tomorrow? no one knows how long they will be in a i knows how long they will be in a 'ob. knows how long they will be in a job all— knows how long they will be in a job all of— knows how long they will be in a job. all of us, whatever role we are in, job. all of us, whatever role we are in. needs— job. all of us, whatever role we are in. needs to — job. all of us, whatever role we are in, needs to be relentlessly focused on delivering for the british people _ on delivering for the british people. in whatever role i play, of course _ people. in whatever role i play, of course being foreign secretary is a fantastic— course being foreign secretary is a fantasticjob and i would love to continue — fantasticjob and i would love to continue in it, but in whatever capacity. _ continue in it, but in whatever capacity, our focus is working for the british— capacity, our focus is working for the british people.— capacity, our focus is working for the british people. james cleverly, foreitn the british people. james cleverly, foreign secretary _ the british people. james cleverly, foreign secretary today _ the british people. james cleverly, foreign secretary today at - the british people. james cleverly, foreign secretary today at least, i the british people. james cleverly, | foreign secretary today at least, as we find out how rishi sunak might shape his new government in the next 48 hours. you had the pitch that they will attempt to come together, this party. if they don't mr sunak�*s job will be impossible. if they do, it will still be mighty difficult. tbs, it will still be mighty difficult. a lot of senior conservatives are wondering if they are going to keep theirjobs in government, or maybe

get a newjob. a deputy editor vicki young is in downing street outside number ten. we now know rishi sunak is the next tory party leader and britain's next prime minister, but i suspect he's a bit of an unknown quantity for a lot of people. he was only elected an mp a few years ago? that's right. it is an incredible climb to the top because as you say, he was only elected in 2015. if you think of some of the prime ministers who have been around a long time before they get to that role, he has done it incredibly quickly and at the age of 42, the youngest prime minister this century. the question is what experience he has. most people of course would know him because he was previously the chancellor, but here is a look at who rishi sunak is. just a month after becoming chancellor, rishi sunak was thrust

into an economic crisis, overseeing the government response to the covid pandemic. tote the government response to the covid tandemic. ~ ., the government response to the covid tandemic. . ., , , ., pandemic. we are setting up a new coronavirus — pandemic. we are setting up a new coronavirus job _ pandemic. we are setting up a new coronavirus job retention - pandemic. we are setting up a new coronavirus job retention scheme. | coronavirusjob retention scheme. any employer in the country small or large, charitable or nonprofit, will be eligible for the scheme. the furlouth be eligible for the scheme. the furlough scheme was a huge intervention that cost billions. he also masterminded the eat 0ut intervention that cost billions. he also masterminded the eat out to help 0ut scheme, encouraging diners back to restaurants when they reopened. hello! all of that came just five years after he was elected as the conservative mp for richmond in north yorkshire. his family had come to the uk from india. he has spoken about the sacrifices they made to send him to winchester college, a top private school. astor 0xford college, a top private school. astor oxford university, a career in banking and his marriage to the daughter of a billionaire made him extremely wealthy. political opponents have commented on his expensive houses, clothes and shoes, suggesting he is out of touch with ordinary people. the revelation that

his wife had non—dom tax status proved politically toxic. she later changed her tax arrangements. she has alwa s changed her tax arrangements. sis: has always followed changed her tax arrangements. 51a has always followed all changed her tax arrangements. 51a: has always followed all the rules, paid all the tax in the uk that is due and paid tax internationally on her international investments. but she recognises that this goes beyond just following those rules. she has decided to pay both uk and foreign taxes. , ,, ., ~' decided to pay both uk and foreign taxes. , ,, ., ,, , ., taxes. rishi sunak is a long-standing - taxes. rishi sunak is a long-standing brexit l taxes. rishi sunak is a - long-standing brexit supporter, taxes. rishi sunak is a _ long-standing brexit supporter, but long—standing brexit supporter, but as chancellor, he rarely trumpeted the benefits of leaving the eu. he got caught up in the scandal about downing street parties, receiving a fine for breaking covid laws. friends say he just turned up early for a meeting in the cabinet room. there had been rumours of tensions between him and borisjohnson overspending after a number of scandals, mr sunak resigned in protest. he was blamed by mr johnson's friends for bringing him down. please welcome rishi sunak! when he stood to be toilet in the summer, he warned that miss truss —— when he stood to be tory leader in

the summer, he warned that liz truss's plans would mean chaos. your tlans truss's plans would mean chaos. your plans would — truss's plans would mean chaos. your plans would mean _ truss's plans would mean chaos. gm;- plans would mean interest rates would have to go up to 7% of that think what that means for your mortgages. he think what that means for your mortgages-— think what that means for your mortgages. he was re'ected by conservative i mortgages. he was rejected by conservative members, - mortgages. he was rejected by conservative members, but i mortgages. he was rejected by conservative members, but a l mortgages. he was rejected by i conservative members, but a few weeks, his colleagues have decided he is the man to bring stability. vicki young, bbc news, westminster. so rishi sunak is to be britain's next prime minister. what has been a reaction around the uk to that news? let's bring you up to date. we can talk to our correspondent jane let's bring you up to date. we can talk to our correspondentjane shore in glasgow and chris page in belfast. let's first go to our wales correspondent hywel griffith in cardiff. i don't know if you have had time to gauge any reaction to the news, but what do you think a sunak premiership will mean in wales? itaste sunak premiership will mean in wales? ~ ., sunak premiership will mean in wales? ., ., ., , sunak premiership will mean in wales? ., ., ., ., wales? we have already heard from the leader of— wales? we have already heard from the leader of the _ wales? we have already heard from the leader of the welsh _ the leader of the welsh conservatives, andrew rt davies, who describes rishi sunak as a friend of wales. and within a minute or two of

the announcement, he tweeted out a picture of him sitting with mr sunak. he describes him as someone who will want to invest, but also challenge the welsh labour government that sits here in the senedd on its record on health and education. when he was in wales earlier this year, if you're like a lifetime ago but was only a couple of months ago that he was part of another leadership contest, that rishi sunak said he would be testing the welsh government on its record and how much it has spent on education, for example, suggesting that the welsh health service was in a far worse state than the english nhs. will he be willing to speak to the vestments to mark drakeford? it is not something liz truss has managed in 50 days —— to speak to their welsh first minister mark drakeford. ordinarily, the prime minister would ring the first ministers of wales and scotland in their first day in office. we will see if that happens later this week. labour are unlikely to shift from their calls for an election. they

will say mr sunak will not have a mandate, being the third prime minister within three months. so they and plaid cymru and the welsh liberal democrats are likely to repeat that call. it will be interesting to see what approach rishi sunak takes to that relationship. liz truss was very comforted. she described mark drakeford as a low—energyjeremy corbyn. might he be a bit more cordial? will he even be willing to pick up the phone?— cordial? will he even be willing to pick up the phone? thank you very much. pick up the phone? thank you very much- let's _ pick up the phone? thank you very much- let's go _ pick up the phone? thank you very much. let's go to _ pick up the phone? thank you very much. let's go to jane _ pick up the phone? thank you very much. let's go to jane shaw- pick up the phone? thank you very much. let's go to jane shaw in i much. let's go to jane shaw in glasgow. nicola sturgeon, first minister of scotland, was also complaining vociferously that liz truss didn't talk to her. what do you think will be expected of a sunak premiership in scotland? meiji. sunak premiership in scotland? well, we do know a — sunak premiership in scotland? well, we do know a bit _ sunak premiership in scotland? well, we do know a bit about _ sunak premiership in scotland? .11 we do know a bit about what sunak premiership in scotland? -ll we do know a bit about what nicola sturgeon expects from rishi sunak is the new prime minister. she was talking about it before the news was confirmed that he is going to take on thejob. essentially, she

described him asjust on thejob. essentially, she described him as just another conservative politician that voters in scotland have not voted for. she also looked ahead to the statement to expect from the chancellor, presumably still on monday, the financial and economic statement. and nicola sturgeon warned that there could be a wave of austerity hitting public services in scotland, which she said it would not be able to withstand. she said the only way to withstand. she said the only way to deal with what she described as the psychodrama going on in the conservative party was a general election. in terms of what we know about rishi sunak�*s attitude to scotland, hopefully, there was a hustings in perth during the election campaign involving him and liz truss in august. and it was very clear, although he might be a bit more polite about it than liz truss was, he said it would be, as he put it, frankly barmy to talk about an

independence referendum in the middle of a cost of living crisis. so it seems his attitude will be the same as the whole sequence of conservative prime ministers we have had in the last couple of years, setting their faces firmly against a second independence referendum. i think he will take a different approach to the scottish government. he wants more scrutiny of what the scottish government does, its policies on drug deaths or on health and education. he wants people to be able to look at their performance more closely and can parent more with what is happening in the rest of the uk. so he will definitely take an interest in scotland. james, thank ou. take an interest in scotland. james, thank you. let's _ take an interest in scotland. james, thank you. let's go _ take an interest in scotland. james, thank you. let's go to _ take an interest in scotland. james, thank you. let's go to our— take an interest in scotland. james, thank you. let's go to our ireland i thank you. let's go to our ireland correspondent chris page in belfast. questions there about post—brexit trade arrangements and the northern ireland protocol, big implications with this new prime minister? that's

ritht, ben. with this new prime minister? that's right. ben. as— with this new prime minister? that's right, ben. as the _ with this new prime minister? that's right, ben. as the new _ with this new prime minister? that's right, ben. as the new head - with this new prime minister? that's right, ben. as the new head of- with this new prime minister? that's right, ben. as the new head of the l right, ben. as the new head of the government in london, one of the matters rishi sunak will be challenged about is how he can help to restore the devolved government here in northern ireland. we haven't had a fully functioning power sharing executive since february. that was when the democratic unionist party in effect collapsed to the stormont executive by walking out in protest against brexit trade border with the rest of the uk known as the northern ireland protocol. the dup says it won't change that position unless the checks on goods arriving here from great britain are scrapped. in the last few minutes we have had a statement from the dup leader said jeffrey donaldson, congratulating rishi sunak and saying he must bear in mind that the protocol has, in his words, polluted every area of government in this part of the uk and that the protocol as it currently stands is incompatible with the operation of devolved government. there is a deadline coming up on friday. that is the legal deadline for the

devolved government to be formed following the election back in may, when sinn fein replaced the dup has the largest party in the stormont assembly. the current northern ireland secretary chris heaton harris has said that if there is no breakthrough, no restoration of power sharing by friday, which seems very unlikely to say the least, he says he will go ahead and call a fresh election to the stormont assembly, probably to be held on the 15th of december. so if there is a cabinet reshuffle in the coming days, the question is, will chris heaton harris to remain in post as northern ireland secretary? would any successor take the same tack as him? this morning that union ministerfor northern him? this morning that union minister for northern ireland him? this morning that union ministerfor northern ireland steve baker said no matter what the events were in westminster, the government would still go ahead and call that election to the northern ireland assembly on friday.— election to the northern ireland assembly on friday. chris page, thank you _ assembly on friday. chris page, thank you and — assembly on friday. chris page, thank you and thanks _ assembly on friday. chris page, thank you and thanks to - assembly on friday. chris page, thank you and thanks to james i assembly on friday. chris page, i thank you and thanks to james shaw in glasgow and hywel griffith in

cardiff. let's bring you that moment again a few minutes ago when we heard from the chairman of the 1922 committee of conservative backbenchers, said graham brady, with the announcement that rishi sunak is the new leader of the conservative party and britain's next prime minister. good afternoon. as returning officer in the leadership election, i can confirm that we have received one valid candidate. rishi sunak is therefore elected as leader of the conservative party. cheering. so graham brady of the 1922 committee. we gather rishi sunak will bejust addressing committee. we gather rishi sunak will be just addressing them at 2.30. let's go back to our deputy political editor vicki young in downing street. one valid nomination as sir graeme said, but yesterday three were in that race. boris

johnson dropped out last night, and then penny mordaunt at the last minute? ll then penny mordaunt at the last minute? ., . ., , , minute? it did or change pretty ra-idl , minute? it did or change pretty rapidly. as _ minute? it did or change pretty rapidly. as you _ minute? it did or change pretty rapidly, as you say, _ minute? it did or change pretty rapidly, as you say, from i minute? it did or change pretty rapidly, as you say, from three| rapidly, as you say, from three possible contenders down to just one. it's a sign that within the conservative parliamentary party, there was a desire to put an end to all of this. let's not forget liz truss, prime ministerforjust all of this. let's not forget liz truss, prime minister forjust seven weeks. the turmoil that that has caused within the party, lots of mps concerned about what that is doing to their popularity, as well the government has to get on and make some difficult decisions. so in the end, penny mordaunt�*s team said she got around 90 people to support her, but not enough. and even if she had, there was a lot of pressure going to be put on her to stand down to enter this contest as quickly as possible and try to move on. so for rishi sunak, a huge turnaround, having been so disappointed in the summer,

losing out to liz truss when it went to the conservative party membership. he will now come into downing street as prime minister and will immediately have to get on with tackling some of those incredibly difficult issues.— difficult issues. vicki, thank you. that is vicki _ difficult issues. vicki, thank you. that is vicki young, _ difficult issues. vicki, thank you. that is vicki young, our - difficult issues. vicki, thank you. that is vicki young, our deputy l that is vicki young, our deputy political editor. we will leave you with these aerial pictures live at westminster on another dramatic day. just a few minutes ago we heard from sir graham brady, chair of the 1922 committee of conservative party backbenchers, that he had only received one nomination for the leadership of the conservative party after penny mordaunt, as you were just hearing, pulled out of the contest at the last moment because she didn't have enough nominations. she needed 100 as a minimum and she wasn't anywhere near that. so graham brady then declared rishi sunak is the only nomination and therefore the only nomination and therefore the next leader of the conservative

party. there were loud cheers and bangs on the table from tory mps, and he becomes the united kingdom's next prime minister. that's it from the bbc news at one. thank you very much for watching. good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. seven weeks after losing to liz truss in this year's first tory leadership contest, rishi sunak has emerged as victor in this one. he is set become the uk's first british asian prime minister, and will take office as the uk faces enormous economic challenges. the ex—chancellor, who is addressing conservative mps in private around now, gained the support of well over half of tory mps,

with mordaunt struggling to reach the 100 mp threshold. here's the moment the announcement was made by 1922 committee chairman sir graham brady. good afternoon. as returning officer in the leadership election i can confirm that we have received one valid parliamentary ballot. cheering and stamping. and rishi sunak is therefore elected as leader of the conservative party. cheering and stamping. the moment the result was announced. let's take a look at our next prime minister. the former chancellor rishi sunak had been the favourite to succeed his old boss borisjohnson as prime minister after his resignation injuly. but he failed to persuade tory members, who ultimately put liz truss in downing street in september. mr sunak, who has not commented

on the recent turmoil, said he was standing as prime minister to fix a "profound economic crisis" as well as unite his party. he became chancellor in february 2020 and within weeks found himself having to steer the uk economy as the pandemic and its lockdowns began. in april, the finances of rishi sunak and his family came under intense scrutiny, with the tax affairs of his heiress wife akshata murthy placed in the spotlight. she later announced she would start paying uk tax on her overseas earnings to relieve political pressure on her husband. rishi sunak is a practising hindu and will become the first asian prime minister. it is diwali in two years ago as chancellor when it was meant when he lit candles outside number 11 and he has since said that was one of his proudest achievements in politics. i'm joined now by our

chief political correspondent nick eardley.