October 25, 2022 was a historic day for the United Kingdom. UK got Rishi Sunak as its first ever Indian-origin non-white Prime Minister. Rishi Sunak is the former Chancellor of the Exchequer and youngest Prime Minister of UK.
Mr. Rishi Sunak, third Conservative Prime Minister this year, was chosen by his fellow Conservative MPs to lead the party and country, after Prime Minister Liz Truss’s announcement on October 20, 2022 that she was resigning as she has lost the support of her fellow MPs after a failed ‘mini budget’ that deeply rattled markets.
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government had collapsed in July, 2022. Ms. Liz Truss replaced Boris Jonhson and became Prime Minister of UK. She beat Mr. Rishi Sunak in a vote by Conservative Party members. But Ms. Truss had to resign just after 45 days as she lost the support of her fellow MPs.
"Rishi Sunak becoming the first British Indian Prime Minister is an historic moment. This simply would not have been possible even a decade or two ago. This will be a source of pride to many British Asians including many who do not share Rishi Sunak’s Conservative politics," Sunder Katwala, Director of British Future.
Labour Party leader Starmer also welcomed Sunak as a the first Indian-origin British Prime Minister - saying that it's a reminder that "Britain is a place where people of all races and beliefs can fulfil their dreams".
About Rishi Sunak
42 years old Rishi Sunak is a British politician and financier who became leader of the Conservative Party and prime minster of the United Kingdom. Previously, Mr. Sunak served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2020 to 2022 and Chief Secretary to the Treasury from 2019 to 2020.
Rishi Sunak is of Indian descent and was born to parents who migrated to Britain from East Africa. Mr. Rishi Sunak was born in a family with immigrant roots. His grandparents emigrated from Punjab, India to East Africa. From where his parents migrated to Southampton, England in 1960s.
Rishi Sunak studied at Winchester College and read Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Lincoln College, Oxford in 2001. He also did his MBA as a Fulbright Scholar from Standford University in 2006.
Mr. Sunak married to an Indian citizen, Akshata Murty, who is the daughter of N.R. Narayana Murthy, founder of one the top IT company Infosys.
Mr. Sunak became Member of Parliament (MP), replacing Richmond in North Yorkshire in the 2015 general election. Mr Sunak supported Brexit in the 2016 referendum on EU membership.
Role of Home Secretary Suella Braverman
Suella Braverman is a politician belongs to Conservative party, was appointed as Home Secretary in Liz Truss's government. Suella Braverman made controversial comments on migration. Earlier in an interview Braverman said that she clearly opposed the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India as she believes that it will further increase the number of Indian migrants to the UK.
“I do have some reservations. Look at migration in this country — the largest group of people who overstay are Indian migrants,” she added.
She also attributed the latest riots in Leicester after India-Pakistan match is due to uncontrolled migration of the people from subcontinent who failed to integrate into the host country.
Braverman, who was Home Secretary in Truss's government had to resign due to an alleged breach of security. Reportedly, she had used her personal mail to send an official document to her colleague breaching the protocol and the security compulsions.
As the issue came to notice, Suella Braverman resigned from the office taking the responsibility of what she calls a “technical infringement”. In her resignation she said, “I have made a mistake; I accept responsibility; I resign.” However, the reports indicate that she was asked to quit by the high office of Prime Minister.
Rishi Sunak reinstated Braverman as Home Secretary when he became Prime Minister of UK, just days after she was forced to resign over a breach of government ethics rules.
Criticism of Rishi Sunak's decision
Labour Party leader Starmer criticized Sunak's decision to reinstate Braverman as Home Secretary. Starmer asked Sunak that "Was the home secretary right to resign last week for a breach of security protocols?" Starmer said that Sunak has promised to govern with "integrity, professionalism and accountability." Starmer pointed out that PM Sunak has put in charge of the Home Office a woman forced to resign just a week ago. Starmer said that the post should be held by someone whose integrity and professionalism are beyond question and accused Sunak of doing a "grubby deal" trading national security because he was scared to lose another leadership election.
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