British PM Sunak vows to 'fix mistakes', restore economic stability

LONDON - Britain's new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Tuesday pledged to "fix the mistakes" made by the Truss government and restore the country's economic stability, while warning there will be "difficult decisions to come."

"Right now, our country is facing a profound economic crisis," Sunak said in his first address to the nation outside 10 Downing Street. He officially became the prime minister moments ago after King Charles III met him at Buckingham Palace and invited him to form a government.

Sunak said Liz Truss was not wrong to want to improve growth, which was a "noble aim," but "mistakes were made."

Truss's attempt of using debt-funded tax cuts to spur economic growth plunged the British pound to a 37-year low against the US dollar, while pushing up the cost of government borrowing and mortgage rates.

Sunak said he had been elected the prime minister to "fix" those mistakes.

"I will place economic stability and confidence at the heart of this government's agenda," he said. "This will mean difficult decisions to come," he added.

Sunak, 42, inherits an economy on the brink of recession, with an energy crisis, cost-of-living crisis and runaway inflation that defy any easy fix.

The prime minister also said he will deliver on the party's manifesto, including a stronger National Health Service (NHS), better schools, safer streets, leveling up and building an economy that embraces the opportunities of Brexit.