Former UK finance minister Rishi Sunak is to become the UK's next prime minister after a public and private battle with colleagues to follow Liz Truss.

Sunak was was the only candidate to secure the support of 100 MPs from the ruling Conservative Party. That meant he will become party leader, and therefore prime minister, without a vote. Once confirmed by King Charles III, Sunak will be the first British leader from Asian heritage as well as the youngest in 200 years. Sunak is a Hindu, and maintains family links to India. His father-in-law is said to be India's richest man. 

Sunak himself has great personal wealth. It has been reported that he will be the first UK prime minister to be richer than the monarch. His experience managing the UK's finances, and in particular his strongly-voiced opposition to Truss' disastrous plans for borrowing-funded tax cuts, prompted many in the party to view him as the safest choice.

But without an election, the opposition parties claim Sunak is an illegitimate leader. Labour, the Scottish National Party, the Liberal Democrats, and the Green Party have all called for a General Election. 

Sunak quit Johnson's government in July, helping trigger a rebellion that bought him down.

"There will be integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level of the government I lead and I will work day in and day out to get the job done," he said in a statement.

"I am asking you for the opportunity to help fix our problems."

Ultimately it was Johnson's decision not to stand again that cleared the way for Sunak. However some Johnson supporters have warned that they may be reluctant to pass their loyalty on to their new leaders, suggesting Sunak may face similar challenges to those that ensured his predecessor Truss' tenure was the shortest in British history.