Unite or Die: Rishi Sunak tells Conservatives before becoming new UK PM
London: Rishi Sunak, who is to take oath as the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on Tuesday, told his colleagues in the Conservative party on Monday to ‘unite or die’, reported The Guardian.
Sunak was elected leader of the Conservative Party on Monday. During a confidential meeting with the party leaders, Sunak is learned to have said that he would give priority to policies over personalities. The Cabinet would reshuffled on Tuesday, he said.
Stating before his party colleagues that they were fighting an economic as well as political crisis, Sunak is reported to have reminded that they would all be held accountable for it by the citizens. He also stated that they were capable of fixing it as they had time till the next election. “We have got the talent, the energy and the ideas,” and also reminded his colleagues, “But we got one shot, no second chances.”
Sunak’s predecessor Liz Truss chairs her final Cabinet meeting and also meets King Charles at the Buckingham Palace. Sunak will then meet the King and deliver a speech outside the official residence of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom at 10, Downing Street.
The first British Asian to become prime minister of the United Kingdom and the second person to become prime minister in less than two months, Sunak is also the youngest British Prime Minister at 42 years.
Each candidate in the contest for the post of the prime minister was required to get the support of at least 100 MPs to remain in the contest. Sunak got the support of 193 MPs, while his Conservative Party rival Penny Mordaunt was supported by 26 MPs only, after which she withdrew from the contest.
Labour party’s deputy leader Angela Rayner said that Sunak clearly had no mandate and again called for a general election in the United Kingdom.
“Sunak has been crowned prime minister without him uttering a single word on his plans to run the country and without anyone having the chance to vote,” she added.
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Prague (PTI): World champion D Gukesh survived some anxious moments in the early middle game before finally drawing with Hans Moke Niemann of the United States in the first round of the masters section of the Prague International Chess Festival here.
The Berlin defense that went wrong for white could be a perfect heading for the encounter between the world champion and Niemann, who is walking his way to the elite chess circles after being indirectly accused of foul play.
It may be recalled that the American infamously won a game against world number one Magnus Carlsen, which will now be documented in a forthcoming Netflix series.
ALSO READ: Cheating made bigger than it actually is: Gukesh
Niemann came all guns blazing and sacrificed a piece with black piece as early as on move 13 to put Gukesh on the back foot despite having the white pieces.
The Indian was down but not out which he proved as the game progressed, and even though, black seemed like pushing for more with his extra pawns in exchange for the sacrificed knight, Gukesh ensured that he stayed in the game.
The eventual outcome was a draw, the lone one in the 10-player, nine round tournament that saw everyone with white pieces triumph in contrasting styles.
Defending champion Aravindh Chithambaram of India turned out to be on the wrong side of a position against Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan.
The Philidor defense by the Indian generated enough evidence that every opening could be playable only till he walked into a deft manoeuvre.
Aravindh lost in the rook and minor piece endgame after losing one of his pawn, and if that was not enough top seeded Vincent Keymer of Germany was blown away by a resurgent Jorden van Foreest of The Netherlands.
It was another Berlin defense wherein Foreest came out with a new idea that perplexed Keymer. As the opening concluded, the Dutchman had an advantage and he picked up a handful of pawns to register a comprehensive victory.
Also ending on a winning note was Abdusattorov's name sake and teammate Nodirbek Yakubboev who put it across David Anton Gujjaro of Spain, while in the other encounter of the day local favourite Navara David proved stronger against Iranian Parham Maghsoodloo.
In the challengers section, women's world cup winner Divya Deshmukh drew with top seeded Benjamin Gledura of Hungary from a position of strength but Surya Shekhar Ganguly ended on the receiving end against Thomas Beerdsen of The Netherlands.
Results after round 1 Masters: D Gukesh (IND) drew with Hans Moke Niemann (USA); Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB) beat Aravindh Chithambaram (IND); Jorden van Foreest (NED) beat Vincent Keymer (GER); David Navara (CZE) beat Parham Maghsoodloo (IRI); Nodirbek Yakubboev beat David Anton Guijarro (ESP).
Challengers: Divya Deshmukh (IND) drew with Benjamin Gledura (HUN); Surya Shekhar Ganguly (IND) lost to Thomas Beersden (NED); Zhu Jiner (CHN) lost to Jachym Nemec (CZE); Daniel Yuffa (ESP) lost to Stepen Hrbek (CZE); Jonas Buhl Bjerre (DEN) drew with Vaclav Finek (CZE).
