During a recent visit to Leicestershire, the UK’s new prime minister, Rishi Sunak, told Conservative party members of his plans to reform the NHS and build an education system that is “the envy of the world”.
Rishi Sunak was officially inducted as the country’s new prime minister earlier today (October 25), after meeting with King Charles at Buckingham Palace.
He replaces outgoing PM Liz Truss, who beat him in the leadership race back back in September.
As part of his previous campaign, Mr Sunak travelled to Whitwick’s ‘Man in Compass’ pub to speak with Conservative party members and set out his values and plans to build a ‘better Britain’ – plans which can be put into action now that he has secured the keys to number 10.
“First it starts with the NHS. It’s wonderful, we all rely on it but we can’t constantly keep throwing more money at it,” he told the assembled crowd last month.
“We need to get it more reformed, more efficient, so we can get our taxes down and get faster healthcare.”
“When it comes to education, that’s the most powerful thing I believe that any government can do to transform people’s lives, to spread opportunity and I want to set about building an education system that is the envy of the world,” he went on to reveal.
“And I want to make sure that we keep everyone and your families safe, and that means that we tackle crime and not let political correctness stand in the way of techniques that we know will actually work, and it means securing our borders because while many of us were welcomed here, our families were welcomed here as immigrants that has to be fair – has to be legal and when it doesn’t happen that undermines trust in the system and with my plan we can fix that.”
Speaking about his values, Mr Sunak called himself a “patriot” and a “hard worker.”
“Family means everything to me,” he added.
“Aspiration is a good thing, for people who are working hard to build a better life for them, their kids, their grandkids and serve their community in the process, that’s the type of thing I was raised with, particularly with education. That’s the type of government that I want to lead.”
Earlier today, Mr Sunak stood outside Downing Street and gave his first speech as prime minister.
In it, he paid tribute to Liz Truss but said he was determined to “fix the mistakes” made by his predecessor.
He acknowledged that the UK was facing a “profound economic crisis” and vowed to put the country’s needs “above politics.”
Mr Sunak, 42-year-old father-of-two, has made history by becoming the first British Asian prime minister and also the country’s youngest for over 200 years.
“I will unite our country, not with words, but with action,” he said in his address.
“I will work day in and day out to deliver for you.”
