Nicola Sturgeon has demanded Rishi Sunak call an immediate general election after he won the latest Conservative leadership contest.
The First Minister said the former Chancellor of the Exchequer would become another example of a Prime Minister that Scotland "did not vote for".
The SNP leader pledged to do her best to build a "constructive working relationship" with Sunak "in the interests of those we serve". But she warned him not to reimpose austerity amid fears the UK Government will be forced to slash public spending.
Sunak won a vote among Tory MPs to replace Liz Truss in Downing Street after the outgoing PM was forced to resign last week following a disastrous 50 days in charge.
Sturgeon tweeted: "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.
"That he becomes the first British Asian to become PM is a genuinely significant moment. It certainly makes this a special Diwali.
"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.
"For Scotland, of course, he becomes another PM we did not and, without doubt would not vote for even if given the chance. To escape the damage of Westminster governments with no mandate here, and take our future into our own hands, Scotland needs independence".
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar also made a fresh demand for a general election to take place.
He said: "The crisis that the UK faces is not simply down to who the Prime Minister is - changing the Prime Minister will not stop the rot. This is a morally bankrupt and incompetent Tory party that cares only about hanging on to power. The Tories have turned Britain into an international punchline – and they have treated you with contempt.
"Rishi Sunak has no mandate to lead the country. It’s time we had a general election and swept this immoral government from power.
"There is a majority for change – and the Labour party, under Sir Keir Starmer, represents that change. It’s time we called an end to this Tory merry-go-round of chaos."
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