Former UK Treasury chief Rishi Sunak is set to become Britain’s first Indian-origin prime minister, as he was announced on Monday by the head of the 1922 Committee of Conservative MPs.
Sunak will be Britain’s third prime minister this year and will replace Liz Truss, who served as Britain’s shortest-serving prime minister for just 45 days. He is set to become the 57th Prime Minister of Britain and the first person of color to lead the country.
Sunak was elected by more than 190 lawmakers after his contender Penny Mordant failed to garner the support of 100 lawmakers, which is a prerequisite for entering the PM race and dropped out of the race.
Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss congratulated Sunak and said he had his full support. Truss said in a tweet, “Congratulations Rishi Sunak on being appointed as the Leader of the Conservative Party and our next Prime Minister. You have my full support.”
Congratulations! @RishiSunak On being appointed leader of the Conservative Party and as our next Prime Minister.
You have my full support.
— Liz Truss (@trussliz) 24 October 2022
Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon called Sunak becoming prime minister a “really important moment” and it certainly makes for a “special Diwali”.
Taking to Twitter, Sturgeon said, “I wish him well and despite our political differences, we will do our best to build a constructive working relationship with him in the interest of the people we serve.”
2/ That he would become the first British Asian to become Prime Minister is a really important moment. It definitely makes it special #Diwali
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) 24 October 2022
Former UK Prime Minister David Cameron has congratulated Rishi on becoming Prime Minister and leading during “challenging times”. In a tweet, Cameron said, “I predicted a decade ago that the Conservatives would choose our first British Indian PM and am proud of what is about to happen today. I wish Rishi all the best, he has my full support.” “
Congratulations @RishiSunak On becoming PM for leading us in challenging times. I predicted a decade ago that @conservative Our first British Indian will choose PM and proud of what is about to happen today. I wish Rishi all the best, he has my full support https://t.co/yXLyo0hWTq
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) 24 October 2022
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has also reacted to it and called it a “proud moment”.
Proud moment to have UK’s first Indian-origin PM. while all India Celebrated properly, it would be good for us to remember that while the UK has accepted an ethnic minority member as its prime minister, we are still bound by divisive and discriminatory laws such as the NRC and CAA.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@Mehbooba Mufti) 24 October 2022
He said in a tweet, “While the whole of India celebrates, it would be good for us to remember that the UK has accepted an ethnic minority member as its PM, yet we are protected by divisive and discriminatory laws like the NRC and CAA. Tied up.”
Congress leader P Chidambaram said, “First Kamala Harris, now Rishi Sunak, the people of America and Britain have embraced the non-majority citizens of their countries and elected them to higher positions in the government.”
“I think there is a lesson to be learned by India and the majoritarian parties that follow,” he said.
First Kamala Harris, now Rishi Sunki
The people of America and Britain have embraced non-majority citizens of their countries and elected them to high positions in government
I think there is a lesson to be learned by India and the parties that follow majoritarianism
— P Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) 24 October 2022
Shashi Tharoor said that “the British have done something very rare” as he congratulated Rishi Sunak.
If it does, I think we all have to accept that the Britons have done something very rare in the world to keep a member of a visible minority in the most powerful office. As we celebrate Indian climbing @RishiSunakLet’s ask honestly: could it be here? https://t.co/UrDg1Nngfv
— Shashi Tharoor (@shashi tharoor) 24 October 2022
In a tweet, he said, “If this happens, I think we all have to acknowledge that the Britons have done something very rare in the world, to keep a member of a visible minority in the most powerful office.” As we celebrate the ascent of the Indian sage Sunak, let’s ask honestly: could it be here?
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