Sturgeon forced to delete message to Rishi Sunak after awkward gaffe

Rishi Sunak announced as the new Prime Minister

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Nicola Sturgeon was forced to delete a message posted on Twitter for Rishi Sunak, the new Conservative Party leader, following an awkward gaffe. The Scottish First Minister mistakenly said Mr Sunak is the first person from “any minority ethnic background” to become Prime Minister. However, Benjamin Disraeli was the UK’s first, and so far only, Jewish Prime Minister.

He was elected in 1874 and also served as Britain’s first ethnic minority Chancellor.

Congratulating the new Conservative party leader on his victory, Ms Sturgeon said: “Congratulations to @RishiSunak – I wish him well and, notwithstanding our political differences, will do my best to build a constructive working relationship with him in the interests of those we serve.”

In a second tweet, which was later deleted, she added: “That he becomes the first British Asian – indeed the first from any minority ethnic background – to become PM is a genuinely significant moment. It certainly makes this a special #Diwali”

Ms Sturgeon continued: “As for the politics, I’d suggest one immediate decision he should take and one he certainly should not.

“He should call an early General Election. And he should not – must not – unleash another round of austerity.

“Our public services will not withstand that.”

Mr Sunak has been appointed Prime Minister after leadership hopefully Penny Mordaunt dropped out of the race at the last minute.

Announcing that she would be pulling out of the race, Ms Mordaunt gave Mr Sunak her “full support”.

She called for the party to “unite and work together for the good of the nation”, adding: “There is much work to be done.”

Mr Sunak addressed MPs in a private meeting after being appointed as the next Conservative Party leader.

One Tory MP said his message to the party was “we must unite or die and deliver for our country”.

This comes as the UK is wracked by rising inflation and a mounting cost of living crisis.

UK inflation reached 10.1 percent last week, its highest since 1982.

The rising prices were driven primarily by the rising cost of food, which had an annual rise of almost 15 percent.

Mr Sunak has pledged to “fix our economy, unite our party and deliver for our country” at a time of “profound economic crisis”.

Outgoing Prime Minister Liz Truss congratulated Mr Sunak on his victory, saying he has her “full support”.

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