First minister Nicola Sturgeon during a visit to Buchanan Street Residential Children’s Home in Coatbridge yesterday (Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)
Nicola Sturgeon has urged the prime minister to call an election – and rule out a return to austerity.
After congratulating Rishi Sunak on his win, Scotland’s first minister said there was ‘one immediate decision he should take and one he certainly should not’.
She tweeted: ‘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.’
Ms Sturgeon – who was handed a pair of comedy teeth on a visit to a children’s home in Coatbridge – said the policy would be ‘horrific’ for Scotland.
But she added she would do her best to foster a ‘constructive working relationship’ with Mr Sunak after having not officially met Liz Truss during her brief premiership.
Her comments come as the SNP’s Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, wrote to Sir Keir Starmer urging Labour to lodge a vote of no confidence in the government, forcing an election.
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Rishi Sunak wins Tory leadership race: What happens next?
Rishi Sunak will become the new UK Prime Minister after winning the ruling Conservative Party’s leadership contest triggered by Liz Truss’ resignation last week.
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The first minister also called for a general election.