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<\/picture><\/span>Image source, <\/span>Reuters<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nPoliticians and other leaders have been reacting to news that Rishi Sunak is to be<\/b> the new prime minister<\/a>. <\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n He faces a number of challenges including a cost-of-living crisis, a war in Europe as well as pressure to get Stormont working again.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n In May, Sinn F\u00e9in was returned as the assembly’s largest party<\/a>, however, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) blocked the forming of an executive.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The DUP withdrew in protest over the Northern Ireland Protocol<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n As it stands, unless an executive is formed by 00:01 BST on Friday 28 October, people in Northern Ireland could, once again, be heading to the polls<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Mr Sunak has received a mixed reaction from the Stormont party leaders and senior politicians in the Republic of Ireland.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Speaking before Mr Sunak was announced for the role, Ms McDonald said any new prime minister will face a challenge of ensuring NI “does not remain endlessly in limbo” without government.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Speaking in Belfast on Monday, the party leader accused the DUP of “inertia and inaction, and do-nothing politics”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Ms McDonald said whoever ends up in Number 10 needed to quickly demonstrate a willingness to get Stormont restored.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “Sinn F\u00e9in received a mandate to go into the executive and share power with others, and for Michelle O’Neill to be first minister,” Ms McDonald said. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Sir Jeffrey Donaldson congratulated Mr Sunak on his victory in the Conservative leadership contest and said the challenge for the new PM remains to deal with the Northern Ireland Protocol.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The DUP leader said Mr Sunak must “restore Northern Ireland’s place within the United Kingdom”. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “There may be a focus on the unity of the Conservative Party, but the unity of our United Kingdom must be protected,” Sir Jeffrey said. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “If the prime minister wants to see a fully-functioning Stormont, then he must deal with it once and for all. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “Delivering that solution would be a very powerful signal that that he is focused on building a better future for everyone.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Alliance leader Naomi Long said Mr Sunak “must prioritise reform of the institutions to end ransom politics” and called on him to “take the opportunity to have a fresh approach to Northern Ireland”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “The lack of an executive is compounding the cost-of-living crisis and the unprecedented pressures on our public services and finances,” Ms Long said. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “Rishi Sunak needs to recognise, even if a solution to the protocol can be agreed with the EU, there remains an inherent instability at the heart of our institutions.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Ms Long described the protocol as “only the latest in a long line of grievances to have collapsed Stormont” and called for reform of the power-sharing executive in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The Alliance leader said the prospect of fresh Stormont elections, with or without a deal on the Northern Ireland Protocol, “solves nothing”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Doug Beattie said that one of the new prime minister’s priorities “must be resolving the political impasse” and “dealing with the issues caused by the Northern Ireland Protocol”. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The Ulster Unionist leader said: “Northern Ireland cannot continue to be used as political football between the United Kingdom and the EU. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “The Protocol must be replaced with a deal that works for everyone.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Mr Beattie said that “everyone knows what needs to be done and now is the time to be getting on with it”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Colum Eastwood branded the process in which Rishi Sunak succeeds Liz Truss as prime minister as a “farce”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Mr Eastwood said Mr Sunak had no mandate to serve as prime minister and urged him to call a general election. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “It is completely illegitimate and an affront to democracy for the Tories to elevate Rishi Sunak to the position of prime minister with no mandate whatsoever,” the SDLP leader said. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “Mr Sunak’s predecessors have completely destroyed the public’s confidence in politics and public service and wrecked the economy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “He should not be allowed another two years to desperately attempt to clean up their mess.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The taoiseach (Irish PM) congratulated Mr Sunak on becoming Tory leader, saying: “I look forward to working with you, as British PM, on the important issues we face on these islands, and globally.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Congratulations @RishiSunak<\/a> on becoming leader of the Conservative Party. <\/p>\n I look forward to working with you, as British PM, on the important issues we face on these islands, and globally.<\/p>\n \u2014 Miche\u00e1l Martin (@MichealMartinTD) October 24, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n T\u00e1naiste [Irish deputy prime minister] Leo Varadkar said he looked forward to working with Mr Sunak.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"line\"](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/1FCD\/production\/_105914180_line976-nc.png.webp)
Mary Lou McDonald, Sinn F\u00e9in<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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Naomi Long, Alliance Party<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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Doug Beattie, Ulster Unionist Party (UUP)<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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Colum Eastwood, Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP)<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
![\"Miche\u00e1l](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/1177\/production\/_125817440_martin.jpg.webp)
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T\u00e1naiste Leo Varadkar<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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