Rishi Sunak set to be UK’s first Hindu PM

LONDON: Britain’s incoming prime minister Rishi Sunak vowed Monday to bring “stability and unity” at a time of economic crisis, after he was named the beleaguered Conservatives´ new leader.

Sunak, 42, a Hindu, will be the UK´s first prime minister of colour after the premiership of Liz Truss imploded after just 44 days. “We now need stability and unity and I will make it my utmost priority to bring our party and our country together,” he said, appearing to rebuff calls from opposition parties for an early general election.

Just seven weeks after he lost out to Truss following Johnson´s own removal from office, Sunak pulled off a stunning reversal in fortunes, and is vowing to do the same for Britain on a platform of fiscal responsibility.

Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon, whose nationalist government in Edinburgh wants to hold an independence referendum next year, was among the first to congratulate Sunak. “I wish him well... notwithstanding our political differences,” she said.

“That he becomes the first British Asian -- indeed the first from any minority ethnic background -- to become PM is a genuinely significant moment.” The contest, triggered by Truss´s resignation on Thursday, had required candidates to secure the support of at least 100 Conservative MPs by 2:00 pm (1300 GMT) on Monday.

Only Sunak made the threshold, Brady announced. Sunak, a wealthy descendant of immigrants from British and East Africa, had crossed that threshold by Friday night, and amassed nearly 200 public nominations -- more than half the parliamentary Tory party.Rishi Sunak’s grandparents originated from British India, their birthplace being Gujranwala, which now lies in Pakistan`s Punjab province. Hence, indirectly, and ultimately, the new UK PM is of Indian as well as Pakistani origin at the same time.

Johnson´s withdrawal from the race -- before he had even formally announced his candidacy -- left cabinet member Mordaunt the only other declared contender. However she failed to garner the necessary support, putting an abrupt end to the contest.

Sunak´s victory came on the day Hindus worldwide mark the start of the five-day festival of Diwali -- a celebration of the victory of good over evil. When he was chancellor of the exchequer, in November 2020, Sunak marked the occasion by lighting oil lamps on the front step of the chancellor´s official residence at 11 Downing Street.

The Tories were forced into their second leadership contest since the summer due to Truss´s resignation following a disastrous market response to her tax-slashing budget plans. Johnson´s attempt to make an immediate return to Downing Street had raised the prospect of months of disarray and disunity within the ruling Conservatives.

Critical backbench Tory MPs warned there could have been a wave of resignations under Johnson´s renewed leadership, which might have led to a general election. One is not due for at least two years.

Johnson cut short a Caribbean holiday to return to Britain on Saturday. But in a sign of his diminished political standing, he swiftly conceded late Sunday, admitting “you can´t govern effectively unless you have a united party in parliament”.

“I believe I have much to offer but I am afraid that this is simply not the right time,” he said, while insisting he had secured the 100 nominations needed to progress. Sunak was quick to pay tribute to Johnson, tweeting: “I truly hope he continues to contribute to public life at home and abroad.”

Labour leaders said Sunak must face the country. “The Tories have crowned Rishi Sunak without him saying a word about what he would do as PM. He has no mandate, no answers and no ideas,” tweeted Angela Rayner, deputy Labour leader.

Anand Menon, politics professor at King´s College London, said Sunak becoming prime minister was a landmark. “To have, if we do, a prime minister of Indian origin is a really, really big deal,” he told BBC television shortly before the result was confirmed. But he noted a lack of general debate on Sunak´s roots. “In a sense... we seem to have normalised this.”