‘Rishimania’ takes hold at London in final hustings of Tory leadership hopefuls

Conservative party members went wild for Rishi Sunak at the final hustings of the Conservative leadership contest at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday. The crowd stood, roared, whistled, clapped and screamed whenever he entered the stage, chanting “Rishi Rishi” in extraordinary scenes reminiscent of Beatlemania.

- Naomi Canton

Sunak entered grinning, waving his arms and saying “Thank you, thank you”’. He then thanked his parents and wife, Akshata, who were in the audience. Sunak told the crowd “the two people who inspired me to enter public service are here tonight — my mum and dad”. He thanked them for sacrificing and striving to provide a better life for their kids. “Thank you for teaching me that with hard work and belief and love of family there is no limit to what someone can achieve”.