PMQs Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday will be the first test of how unified the party is behind its new leader, after Mr Sunak used his first public address on Tuesday to brace the country for 'difficult decisions' as he criticised much of the legacy left behind by Liz Truss's brief tenure.

 Rishi Sunak talked tough on the economy today as he made a fiery Prime Minister's Questions debut against Labour's Sir Keir Starmer.

Minutes after he revealed he and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt had delayed the Budget by two weeks, the new Prime Minister warned the opposition that he would not shy away from 'difficult decisions'.

He also goaded Sir Keir over the profligate spending plans of previous Labour leaders, congratulating him on realising that 'spending has to be paid for'.

In a packed and noisy Commons chamber the two leaders clashed over violent crime and the reappointment of Suella Braverman as Home Secretary. . .

Rishi Sunak says 'difficult decisions' are required on the economy because 'spending has to be paid for' amid fears of spending cuts in fiery clash with Keir Starmer at his first Prime Minister's Questions - after delaying the Budget until November

• New Prime Minister warned the opposition that he would not shy away from 'difficult decisions' on economy
• Mr Sunak goaded Sir Keir Starmer over the profligate spending plans of previous Labour leaders
• In fiery exchanges he congratulated Opposition leader on realising that 'spending has to be paid for' 
• The fiscal statement due to be held on October 31 will now be held on November 17 and be upgraded in scope

By DAVID WILCOCK, DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR and GREG HEFFER, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 07:25 EDT, 26 October 2022 | UPDATED: 09:23 EDT, 26 October 2022