RISHI Sunak was caught in a brutal snubbing of scandal-hit former health secretary Matt Hancock as he celebrated becoming PM outside Tory HQ on Monday afternoon.
The former chancellor was shaking hands with everyone as he arrived to applause, following news that he was the only leadership candidate left who had received the required 100 nominations.
Sunak smiled and greeted Tory MPs on the Westminster street, but completely blanked his former Cabinet colleague as he approached.
Sunak and Hancock worked together for over a year after both being appointed to Boris Johnson's Cabinet.
But in June, 2021, it emerged that Hancock had broken his own social distancing restrictions after being caught on camera kissing and hugging adviser Gina Coladangelo, with whom he was having an extramarital affair.
The pair had met while they were both at Oxford, and years later Hancock gave her the job of paid non-executive director at the Department for Health and Social Affairs.
Hancock resigned the following day after apologising for breaking the rules, saying in a statement that "those of us who make these rules have got to stick by them".
The MP for West Suffolk has not made a return to the Cabinet since the incident last year - and presumably, Sunak didn't fancy being photographed with the scandal-hit ex-minister on his first day in the job.
In the footage, you can see Hancock's grin fall right off his face as Sunak goes straight past him. Absolutely savage from the PM.
And that's even after Hancock offered up his support to Sunak for several months. During both leadership contests ...
Hancock tweeted approvingly on Monday afternoon: "Huge congratulations to @RishiSunak. He is exactly the Prime Minister we need. All of those who know Rishi well know he has the integrity, ability and experience to lead our country in these troubled times."
It doesn't look like the appreciation is returned, mate ...
After arriving at Tory HQ, Sunak gave a very brief speech in which he warned that the UK faces a “profound economic challenge".
In a speech at Conservative Party headquarters, he said: “I am humbled and honoured to have the support of my parliamentary colleagues and to be elected as leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party.
“It is the greatest privilege of my life, to be able to serve the party I love and give back to the country I owe so much to.
“The United Kingdom is a great country but there is no doubt we face a profound economic challenge.
“We now need stability and unity and I will make it my utmost priority to bring our party and our country together.”
He also paid tribute to Liz Truss for her “dedicated public service”.
The handover of power from Truss to Sunak will not take place on Monday, Downing Street confirmed.
Discussions are taking place between Truss and Sunak about the timing of the transition.
It was the moment at the end of Sunak's speech that truly captured the mood of the UK, though.
A large crowd of onlookers had gathered at the gates and, as Sunak was driven off, a woman shouted “General Election now”.
