Oldham’s leaders have reacted to Rishi Sunak’s ascension to Prime Minister less than two months after he was beaten by rival leadership candidate Liz Truss.

Oldham Conservatives have welcomed the appointment of Mr Sunak, who becomes 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.

He will be formally appointed to the role in a handover of power overseen by the King within the coming days, as discussions take place between Ms Truss and Mr Sunak about the timing.

Penny Mordaunt, the Commons Leader, bowed out of the leadership race to hand Mr Sunak a spectacular political comeback 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.

Oldham Conservatives

Royton North Councillor Dave Arnott said, “We have a new Prime Minister, and he needs to get on with the job of governing the country and delivering on our manifesto and the mandate given to Boris Johnson.”

Politicians from Oldham’s other political parties were less enthusiastic about the new PM.

Jim McMahon

Oldham West & Royton MP Jim McMahon said: “The Tory party circus in Downing Street continues.

“As Chancellor Rishi Sunak failed to grow the economy, failed to get a grip on inflation, and failed to help families with the Tory cost of living crisis and he hasn’t been seen for months after losing to Liz Truss in the previous leadership election.

“He has no mandate and bragged about taking funding away from areas like Oldham in favour of wealthy rural constituencies. It’s time for the public to have their say and time for a Labour government. We need a general election.”

Angela Rayner

Angela Rayner, MP for Failsworth and Ashton, said: “The Tories have crowned Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister without him saying a single word about how he would run the country and without anyone having the chance to vote.

“This is the same Rishi Sunak who as Chancellor failed to grow the economy, failed to get a grip on inflation, and failed to help families with the Tory cost of living crisis.

“And it’s the same Rishi Sunak whose family avoided paying tax in this country before he put up taxes on everyone else.

“With his record - and after Liz Truss comprehensively beat him over the summer - it’s no wonder he is dodging scrutiny.

“Rishi Sunak has no mandate and no idea what working people need. We need a general election so the public get a say on the future of Britain – and the chance for a fresh start with Labour.”

Debbie Abrahams

The MP for Oldham East & Saddleworth said: “I want to recognise this moment of national significance as Rishi Sunak becomes the first UK Prime Minister of colour; for all our sakes, I wish him well. 

“However, I fundamentally disagree with his politics.

“He will be leading a party that has unleased economic chaos on our country and, other than his priorities from his Conservative leadership campaign this summer, he has provided no detail on how he will tackle the very serious problems we face now.

“In addition, where is the public mandate for what Rishi Sunak will do as prime minister?

“Less than 200 Tory MPs voted to selected him! Mr Sunak has been crowned the sixth Conservative leader in five years and the sixth Prime Minister in five years.

“In addition to Mr Sunak being a Prime Minister unelected by the public, Ms Truss also had no public mandate. 

“Mr Sunak is the man who, as Chancellor, failed to grow the economy, failed to get a control on inflation, and failed to help families with the cost of living crisis. 

“He was in charge of the Treasury when the Bounce Back Schemes were introduced and he failed to use basic counter-fraud steps leading in 2021 to the National Audit Office estimating that 11 per cent of applications (more than 1 in 10) were fraudulent wasting £5bn and that 37% (more than 1 in 3) would fail to pay their loan back, losing the Treasury (and you!) £17bn.

“During the summer, he boasted that he changed the Government funding formulas so that they divested money away from deprived urban areas, the exact opposite of levelling up!

“Mr Sunak has no mandate and if he believes in democracy, he needs to grant the public a general election now.”

ALSO READ: Oldham director disqualified for exploiting Bounce Back Loan.

Oldham Lib Dems

Local Lib Dem councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “How can the Conservative party claim any kind of authority after burning through three prime ministers in seven weeks?

“I’m sure they don’t want to give the people of the UK a say, because they already know what the answer would be, but this is about what’s best for the country.

“This is a Conservative Party stitch-up which has left the country with another out of touch Prime Minister who nobody voted for. 

“I want to be able to turn round to people and say that help is coming.

“Whether it’s been Johnson or Truss or Sunak, that hasn’t been an option.

“If this Government isn’t going to do anything that lets me say that, then I want a different Government. That’s why the Liberal Democrats have tabled a bill for a General Election.”