Rishi Sunak has RULED OUT calling an early general election after he was named Prime Minister without winning a single vote or saying a single word.
Mr Sunak gave his first speech after being named Prime Minister - to his own MPs in private behind a heavy wooden door in an oak-panelled committee room, which journalists were kicked out of 20 minutes earlier.
He then hopped across Westminster to Conservative HQ - where he also didn't speak in public outside. But he gave his first statement as PM at a lectern in the building.
The new Tory leader told MPs to "unite or die" half an hour after they came together to ensure a “coronation”, before he'd spelt out any of his policies in a four-day campaign.
Yet multiple MPs who were at his address told the Mirror he effectively ruled out an early general election. By law he does not have to hold one until January 2025 at the latest.
Sunak-backing MP Simon Hoare said that with Labour scoring its biggest poll leads since 1997, "opposition parties always want an election" but the new leader had ruled one out.
Mr Hoare said: "His key message to the public is 'can you give us the space and the time, can you give us more of your patience, and he'll argue it's worth their time'."
Another MP told the Mirror Mr Sunak "made it clear he will go 2 years". A third MP said he did not rule out a general election "in as many words", but "made it clear it's a long way to the next election".
During his speech the new Tory leader said it was a "tough period" and there would be "no easy answers".
He didn't mention whether Chancellor Jeremy Hunt would remain in post, but stressed he does wish to cut taxes - when the time is right.
Mr Hoare continued: "Time isn't on our side, we've not got time to lose."
Mr Sunak did not reference spending cuts in his brief address, which saw MPs loudly hammer their desks and cheer throughout.
The next Prime Minister - who will not take office today - said he favoured low taxes, but only when it's "affordable" and "when the time is right".
His rival Penny Mordaunt dropped out one minute before MPs would have found out if she had the 100 backers she needed for a Tory members’ vote.
Mr Sunak, who spelt out policies in the summer but then lost to Liz Truss who torpedoed the economy, now faces pushing through austerity cuts without a mandate from general election.
Shortly after addressing backbenchers Mr Sunak made a brief 86-second televised address in which he paid tribute to his short-lived predecessor.
He said: "It is the greatest privilege of my life to be able to serve the party I live and to 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.
“Because that is the only way we will overcome the challenges we face and build a better, more prosperous future for our children and our grandchildren.
Mr Sunak, 42, is the first British Asian PM and the youngest PM in modern history. Previous record-holder David Cameron was 43 in 2010.
Tory MPs roared and banged desks in Parliament's oak-panelled Committee Room 14. But it is the first time in post-war history that the UK party of government has changed its leader twice in a row without a general election.
Mr Sunak has not done any television or radio interviews - or even filmed any campaign videos. Before yesterday he had not even sent a tweet since September 8, and that one was about the Queen.
Ms Mordaunt said she was “good” and “I’m going to support the new PM" as she walked in to hear him speak.
As she left Mr Sunak's speech, Ms Mordaunt said: "I am very pleased for Rishi. It is a historic decision and I'm proud of my party." Asked if the party can unite, she said: "It must now unite. We have a lot to do."
Deputy PM Therese Coffey - who could soon be ousted by the new PM - said: "It's absolutely critical the Conservative Party comes together, and we put our full force behind Rishi as Prime Minister. We get on, we deliver and frankly unite against Labour."
Asked if Rishi Sunak was an election winner, she said "I think he's certainly won an election this week", despite MPs not holding a vote or revealing how many nominations he received.
Liz Truss resigned on Thursday after just 44 days in office, becoming Britain’s shortest-serving PM in history.
She lasted less time than the B&Q returns policy, Cher's Believe staying at No1 in the charts, or magician David Blaine’s stint living in a box after she unleashed chaos on the mortgage market with £70bn in unfunded tax cuts.
One Conservative MP said outside the meeting: "We're all feeling very buoyant, what a transformation since last week."
Rishi Sunak will not enter Downing Street today. It is likely to be on Tuesday but it could be later, No10 signalled.
Downing Street confirmed the transition from Liz Truss to Mr Sunak “won’t be taking place today”, as discussions are still under way between Mr Sunak and Buckingham Palace.
Updated timings are expected to be released later this afternoon.
Ms Truss is likely to give a farewell speech in Downing Street before going to see the King to resign. Rishi Sunak would then go to the Palace shortly afterwards to be confirmed as PM by King Charles.
No10 was unable to immediately guarantee whether it would be Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak giving PMQs on Wednesday, though it is widely expected to be Mr Sunak.
A No10 spokesman said they would “make sure we have a smooth and efficient process as we did previously”.
Liz Truss’s official spokesman refused to rule out the possibility of her awarding a slew of resignation honours - despite being in office less than 50 days.
