Nicola Sturgeon urges Rishi Sunak to call an immediate general election in the UK

Mr Sunak, who will become the third British prime minister since early September, will move into No 10 at a time of economic pressure, with calls for a general election from opposition parties mounting

Nicola Sturgeon urged the new Tory leader to rule out austerity. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA

Scotland’s first minister has urged the soon-to-be British prime minister to call a general election and rule out a return to austerity.

Rishi Sunak won the contest after rival Penny Mordaunt ended her bid for the top job just minutes before the number of nominations for each candidate were due to be announced on Monday.