Conservative Party leader Rishi Sunak said he wondered if he could be considered an "elder statesman" at the age of 44, as he responded to the King's Speech on Wednesday.
The former prime minister, offering advice to MPs tipped with a bright future, joked in the Commons: "On the Government benches life comes at you fast.
"Soon you might be fortunate enough to be tapped on the shoulder and be 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.
"And before you know it you have a bright future behind you and you're left wondering whether you can credibly be an elder statesman at the age of 44."
Mr Sunak earlier condemned abuse aimed at candidates during the General Election, saying: "The intimidation that some candidates received in this election - both physical and digital - was completely unacceptable and is a threat to our electoral process.
"There can be no excuse for threats of physical violence or intimidatory protest outside politicians' homes."
He congratulated Sir Keir Starmer for his “decisive victory” at the General Election, adding in the Commons: “The party opposite has successfully tapped into the public’s desire for change, but they must now deliver change, and we on this side of the House will hold them accountable for delivering on the commitments that they made to the British people.
“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.
“What will guide us will be our principles. Sound public finances, a belief that people know how to spend their own money better than governments do, that private enterprise not state intervention is the key to delivering growth and prosperity, public services that work for those who need them, an education system that gives everyone the best start in life, secure borders, and a strong national defence.”
Mr Sunak welcomed the decision by the Government to bring forward Martyn’s Law, designed to help protect venues against terror attacks.
Mr Sunak claimed that Labour inherited an economy which was already on an upward trajectory.
Speaking in the Commons, he said: “I understand well that the Chancellor is keen to paint as bleak a picture as possible, but I would just gently point out that this is not exactly what the facts say.
“Inflation at 2%, unemployment 4%, and the fastest growing economy in the G7 so far this year. The party opposite has inherited an economy that is already on an upward trajectory.”
Mr Sunak also argued that Labour’s planning reforms could leave some people without a say, adding: “A system that does not allow local people to have a say will damage public consent for more housing in the long term.
“And I regret there was no mention of rural communities and farming in the King’s Speech, much like my own, but I hope in time the Government will bring forward proposals.”
The Tory MP said that constitutional changes, such as changing the age limit of peers in the House of Lords, should be done on a cross-party basis “rather than to use a simple majority in this House to push things through”.
