A number of Merseyside's MPs have called for a general election after Rishi Sunak triumphed in the Conservative leadership race.
The former Chancellor will succeed Liz Truss as Prime Minister after Boris Johnson and Penny Mordaunt dropped out of the contest. Nearly 200 Conservative MPs backed Mr Sunak and he is set to become the party's third leader this year.
Penny Mordaunt's withdrawal from the race meant that Mr Sunak was crowned leader without a vote being taken to the Conservative Party's members. He is expected to take office as Prime Minister in the coming days.
READ MORE: Words we should all worry about as Rishi Sunak becomes the new Prime Minister
Labour Party figures from across our region have expressed their dismay at the appointment of yet another Tory leader, with many calling for an election.
Before the result was confirmed, Birkenhead MP Mick Whitley tweeted: "Today, the Tories are set to crown Britain's richest MP as their new leader - and as our third Prime Minister in as many months. Without a single vote being cast. My constituents didn't vote for Rishi Sunak. And they didn't vote for austerity 2.0."
Mr Sunak and his wife Akshata Murthy's net worth was listed at £730 million in this year's Sunday Times rich list. According to the Guardian, this is the first time that a frontline politician has been named in the list since its 1989 inception.
Wavertree MP Paula Barker tweeted: "Rishi Sunak, the millionaire who helped spark the current economic crisis, is the Tories (sic) choice for Prime Minister. The person they have selected to address the worries of millions of ordinary people during a Cost Of Living Crisis. No. We need a #GeneralElectionN0W
Similarly, St Helens South & Whiston MP Marie Rimmer said: "Rishi Sunak, who was rejected by Conservative members only a few weeks ago, is now set to become Prime Minister without a vote of any kind. Unless Sunak calls a General Election, he does not have a mandate to govern."
Wirral South MP Alison McGovern tweeted: "Had a huge number of emails over the weekend from people asking for a general election. I agree with you all. We deserve better.
"Our friends and families are suffering, while the Tories squabble amongst themselves. This country needs a General Election & a Labour Government."
Additionally, a number of Labour MPs and Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram tweeted out a video of Rishi Sunak speaking about how he diverted funding from "deprived urban areas" while Chancellor.
Mr Rotheram commented on this, saying: "Our latest unelected Conservative Prime Minister (net worth c.£730m), boasting about taking money from 'deprived urban areas'. If levelling up wasn't already dead, then Sunak might just be the final nail in the coffin. We need a general election now."
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