Rishi Sunak's lighthearted counsel to PM Keir Starmer...

In his first formal speech as UK Opposition leader in parliament on Wednesday, former british prime minister and Conservative leader Rishi Sunak gave his successor, Keir Starmer, some humorous advise. In response to king Charles III's reading of the legislative program and priorities for the upcoming year during the King's Speech, which signaled the State Opening of parliament, Sunak congratulated Starmer on his resounding victory in the general election earlier this month.

“Life moves quickly when you're on the government Benches. “You might be lucky enough to be tapped on the shoulder and offered a junior ministerial role soon,” Sunak remarked, alluding to his appointment in the previous Boris Johnson-led government as a junior Treasury minister and his subsequent rise to Chancellor. 

Following that, you will find yourself attending cabinet and being in the Cabinet. He made reference to his selection as Britain's first prime minister of indian descent in 2022, following the resignation of Prime Ministers Johnson and Liz Truss. "And then when the role of prime minister gets untenable, you may end up being called to the highest office," he said. " "And before you know it, at 44 years old, you've got a bright future ahead of you and are left wondering whether you can really be an elder statesman," playfully remarked Sunak.

The Member of parliament for Richmond and Northallerton stated during his address that the Labour party needed to bring about the change that the people wanted to see after the general elections. "The opposition party has effectively capitalized on the public's yearning for transformation; however, they now have a duty to effect change, and we on this side of the house will hold them responsible for fulfilling their pledges to the british people," he continued. "We will not oppose for the sake of opposing in the national interest, but it is our duty as the opposition to voice our disagreement with the government."

Starmer responded by thanking Sunak for his "generosity" but he also declared that under his leadership, there will be "no more party political strategies masquerading as policy, no more gimmicks, no more wedge issues."