Rishi Sunak is on his feet in the Commons, where he will face off with Prime Minister Keir Starmer in a debate over the King’s Speech.
Sir Keir had set out his plans for the country – which comes in the form of around 40 bills – in a speech delivered by the King earlier today.
He begins by wishing the Queen a happy birthday, and paying tribute to Sir Tony Lloyd, the former Labour member for Rochdale.
Mr Sunak also “deplores” the assassination attempt on former US president Donald Trump, saying: “Violence and intimidation have no place in the democratic process.”
He then briefly responds to Loyal Addresses given by MPs Peter Dowd and Florence Eshalomi in the Commons earlier today.
Mr Sunak then offers some words of advice to those now on the government benches.
“Life comes at you fast,” he says. “Soon you might be fortunate enough to be tapped on the shoulder and offered a junior ministerial role.
“Then, you’ll find yourself attending cabinet, then in the cabinet.
“And then when the prime minister’s position becomes untenable, you might end up being called to the highest office.”
He jokes that “before you know it, you have a bright future behind you and you are left wondering if you can credibly be an elder statesman at the age of 44”.
Mr Sunak goes on to congratulate Sir Keir on his “decisive” victory in this month’s general election.
“But they now must deliver change,” he says. “In the national interest, we will not oppose for the sake of it but when we disagree with the government it is our responsibility as the opposition to say so.”
The former prime minister says the Conservatives will be guided by their “principles”.
He hails the steps taken in the King’s Speech for Martyn’s Law, and that the government will continue plans for a smoke-free generation – which started under the Tories.
Mr Sunak urges Sir Keir to commit to boosting defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030, warning the world is now in a dangerous place.
He also stresses that Labour has inherited an economy on an “upward trajectory”, after inflation fell sharply during Mr Sunak’s tenure in Number 10.
On potential reforms to the House of Lords, Mr Sunak says Labour’s proposed changes should “proceed on a cross-party basis”.
He concludes that the Conservatives will “fulfil our duty as the loyal opposition”.