Rishi Sunak uses former administration's lectern to deliver first message as UK PM

Rishi Sunak, Britain's first Indian-origin prime minister, did not have his own personalised lectern in Downing Street on Tuesday as there was no time for him to design one and will use a leftover from the previous administration.

Sunak, 42, formally took charge as Britain's first Indian-origin Prime Minister after an audience with King Charles III on Tuesday, a day after he was elected the new leader of the Conservative Party in a historic leadership run.

Outgoing Prime Minister Liz Truss chaired her final Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street on Tuesday morning before making her way to Buckingham Palace to formally tender her resignation to the 73-year-old monarch.

Also Read | 'New dawn' for UK, 'Death of Democracy': Britain's new PM Sunak witnesses both bricks and bouquets

In a break with Tory tradition, the new prime minister has not been given his own lectern to deliver statements to the public, and will use a leftover from the previous administration, The Telegraph newspaper reported.

Truss sparked intrigue last month when she gave her first speech from Downing Street in front of a twisted lectern made of wooden blocks, the report said.

The modern design was a break from Boris Johnson’s lectern, which was straighter and more traditional.

Sunak used a similar design to Truss without the “twisted” effect when he delivered his first statement from Downing Street on Tuesday.

The lecterns each take around three weeks to manufacture and cost between 2,000 pounds and 4,000 pounds, depending on the style and speed they are needed, the report added.

Although they are largely made of wood, they have a metal core to prevent them from being blown over.

Conservative prime ministers are each allowed to help design the lecterns for their time in office.

Also Read | India doesn't need lessons from other country: Cong rebuffs remarks of Chidambaram, Tharoor on Sunak elevation

They are custom-built for the Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ), which usually orders two and loans one to Downing Street.

Former prime minister Theresa May's lectern was designed by Fiona Hill, her joint chief of staff, and was designed to look "feminine", the report quoted a source as saying.

David Cameron's was designed by Baroness Sugg, his head of operations, and was designed to look "statesmanlike," while Johnson's blockier design was intended to withstand him thumping it as he delivered speeches.

The CCHQ version of Truss’s lectern has Union flag stickers and was used in her address to members after winning the Conservative leadership race last month.

The most short-lived lectern in British political history is Liz Truss's twisted column.

Also Read | Hopes for India-UK FTA talks impetus with new PM Rishi Sunak

The 42-year-old former Chancellor of the Exchequer, a devout Hindu, is the youngest British prime minister in 210 years. He is also Britain's first Hindu Prime Minister.

Former prime minister Boris Johnson ruling himself out from the contest over the weekend and Leader of the Commons Penny Mordaunt conceding defeat just moments before the shortlisting deadline on Monday paved the way for a remarkable political comeback for Sunak – having lost the Tory membership vote to Truss just last month. PTI AMS AKJ AMS