READERS are demanding a general election following the news that Rishi Sunak will become the next Prime Minister of the UK after gaining the backing of Tory MPs.

Mr Sunak was the only Tory leadership candidate to get the backing of at least 100 Conservative MPs, meaning he will become leader without the party’s members having a vote.

The former Chancellor was initially opposed by Boris Johnson, who backed out of the leadership race over the weekend despite claiming to have received sufficient support from MPs to continue, and Penny Mordaunt, who was unable to gather the 100 backers needed to proceed in the contest.

Unlike Mordaunt, Mr Sunak swiftly hit the threshold of 100 nominations from Conservative colleagues ahead of the deadline of 2pm on Monday before commanding the public support of about half the parliamentary party.

Mail readers, however, believe the next PM should have been decided by a public vote.

Ange O'Halloran said: "I think it's time the public are allowed to demand a general election!"

Kila Heighton said: "It should have been put to the public to vote."

Tom Dockerty said: "The end is in sight."

Liane Pavett said: "Nobody got a vote we so need a general election."

Mark Hinchley said: "Wait for all them cuts."

Peter Mogsy Morgan said: "Never thought i would see the day this happened."

Sunak will become Prime Minister just seven weeks after losing out to Liz Truss in the last Tory leadership contest.

Ms Truss resigned after just 44 days in office last week.