BASINGSTOKE’S MP has reacted to news Rishi Sunak is the country’s 57th Prime Minister.

The MP for Richmond (Yorks) and former chancellor will succeed Liz Truss.

Outgoing PM Ms Truss announced she would step down from the role on October 20 after just 45 days, making her the United Kingdom’s shortest serving Prime Minister.

Mr Sunak was guaranteed the job when Penny Mordaunt pulled out of the leadership race this afternoon.

Following the announcement, Maria Miller said: “Whilst I supported Penny Mordant to be a candidate in the leadership election, I am pleased that the nominations process has been decisive. We now need to move forward and I welcome Rishi Sunak as Conservative Party Leader taking us towards the next election. The new Party Leader is clear that the Manifesto the Conservative Government was elected on is our focus. We all must work together to achieve the pledges that we set out in that manifesto; Rishi Sunak has the overwhelming support of MPs and he has the skill needed to deliver the manifesto and the challenges brought by the war in Ukraine and global energy prices.”

Over the weekend, Dame Maria publicly came out in support of Penny Mordaunt, who withdrew from the leadership contest just before the announcement of candidates from Sir Graham Brady MP.

She continued: "It is important that the whole Party works in support of Rishi now that he has been duly elected as Leader. There must be unity if we are to succeed in overcoming considerable challenges – standing firm in the face of Vladimir Putin, protecting people through the cost-of-living crisis, and making a full recovery from the aftermath of the pandemic.”