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

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.

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 was among the first to push for an election, after congratulating Mr Sunak on his win.

“I’d suggest one immediate decision he should take and one he certainly should not,” she said on Twitter.

“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 Sturgeonr earlier on Monday said calling a vote should be the first action taken by the new occupant of No 10.

“Of course, there should be a general election,” she said. “The governance of any country cannot simply be a revolving door that one party gets to pick time and time again who occupies the highest office in the land.”

She added: “Of course, there should be a general election but do I think that is going to happen? That the Tories are voluntarily going to concede that? No, I don’t.”

The first minister, who said the political turmoil at Westminster provided a solid case for independence, also added she feared there would be “horrific” austerity imposed on Scotland as a result of UK government policy.

But, Ms Sturgeon also said she would do her best to foster a “constructive working relationship with him in the interests of those we serve” after having not officially met with Liz Truss during her fleeting premiership.

She also congratulated the former chancellor on becoming the first person from an ethnic minority to reach No 10, describing it as a “significant moment”.

Ms Sturgeon’s comments come as her Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, wrote to Labour leader, Keir Starmer, calling on him to lodge a motion of no confidence in the British government, forcing an election.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said, regardless of the change of leader, it will “not stop the rot”.

“This is a morally bankrupt and incompetent Tory party that cares only about hanging on to power,” he added.

“The Tories have turned Britain into an international punchline – and they have treated you with contempt.

“Rishi Sunak has no mandate to lead the country. It’s time we had a general election and swept this immoral Government from power.”

Meanwhile, Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie said Mr Sunak’s appointment would be “music to the ears of his super rich friends, but, for millions of people in Scotland and beyond it will be devastating”.

He added: “Scotland didn’t vote for any of them. There is no doubt that we need an election, and the chance to remove this chaotic government. But we also need a fair and democratic referendum.

“Surely after all this, nobody can doubt that Scotland is capable of better than the shambles that calls itself the UK Government.”