Britain's Sunak to face opposition in parliament for first time as PM

On Wednesday, Rishi Sunak will face off against opposition lawmakers for the first time as British prime minister, in a likely-raucous parliamentary session, following weeks of political turmoil.

This comes after he took power on Tuesday as the first UK leader of colour, vowing to repair the damage wrought by outgoing leader Liz Truss through her disastrous budget, which sparked economic carnage.

Pledging also to unite his fractured Conservatives, and an increasingly unimpressed country, Sunak began his tenure by re-appointing a host of ministers from his predecessor's top team.

The former finance minister retained Jeremy Hunt as Chancellor of the Exchequer, bidding to keep markets on side after he stabilised the situation with his initial appointment nearly two weeks ago.

He also kept Truss' foreign, defence, trade and culture ministers, among others, and controversially brought back the recently-fired Home Secretary Suella Braverman.

The line-up "reflects a unified party and a cabinet with significant experience, ensuring that at this uncertain time there is continuity at the heart of government", a Downing Street source said.

The largely same-look cabinet could hold an inaugural meeting on Wednesday before Sunak heads to the House of Commons for his first weekly "Prime Minister's Questions", when he will battle Labour leader Keir Starmer and other opposition lawmakers.

They will undoubtedly seek to capitalise on weeks of chaos at the top echelons of government, and reiterate demands for a general election following the selection — by Conservative MPs — of their third leader in two months.

"The Tories have crashed the economy, with low wages, high prices and a cost-of-living crisis," Starmer said on Tuesday, in a taste of the attack-lines to come.

"The public needs a fresh start and a say on Britain's future."

Truss left office as the UK's shortest-serving premier in history, replaced by its youngest leader since 1812 and the first Hindu to become one.

Sunak, 42, triumphed in a 96-hour Tory leadership contest after rival contender Penny Mordaunt failed to secure enough nominations from Tory lawmakers and Boris Johnson dramatically aborted an audacious comeback bid.

Truss and Johnson offered their support — though the latter, who privately blamed his ex-minister for toppling him in July, is thought to be fuming and still harbouring hopes of an eventual Downing Street return.

Addressing the nation outside Number 10 shortly after his appointment by King Charles III, Sunak conceded the country faced "profound economic crisis".

"I will place economic stability and confidence at the heart of this government's agenda," he said, adding:

"This will mean difficult decisions to come."

In an apparent bid for better domestic unity, Sunak held immediate calls with the devolved leaders of Scotland and Wales — something Truss failed to do in her seven-week tenure.

In his first call with a foreign leader, Sunak told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Britain would continue its "steadfast support" following the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

He also spoke to US President Joe Biden, who had earlier hailed the appointment of the first British-Indian prime minister as "groundbreaking".