Rishi Sunak elected British prime minister

The Conservative Party elected former U.K. Treasury chief Rishi Sunak as Britain’s next prime minister on Monday. Prime Minister Liz Truss resigned Thursday. Her predecessor Boris Johnson, who had been forced from office after a number of scandals, was again considered for leadership of the party before he bowed out Sunday. Truss resigned after she withdrew a package of tax cuts she had proposed earlier and had difficulties with her cabinet members. Johnson decided not to run again after Sunak gathered more preliminary backers. The Conservative Party said Sunak was the only valid nomination.

Who is Sunak? Sunak ran for prime minister after Johnson resigned and came in a close second to Truss. He’s Britain’s first leader of color and the first Hindu. The 42-year-old is also Britain’s youngest prime minister in more than 200 years. He had worked in Parliament under Johnson but was one of the first to quit amid the ethics allegations that led to Johnson’s resignation. He has said he will focus on curbing inflation rather than cutting taxes. 

Dig deeper: Read R. Albert Mohler Jr.’s column in WORLD Opinions on Truss when she first came into office.