It’s “Prime” Time for Rishi Sunak: UK’s New British Prime Minister

The political scene in the UK has been nothing short of a tumultuous journey in recent times. Despite it all, Rishi Sunak, a former banker climbing up the government’s higher echelons, has gained leadership of the British Parliament as the UK’s new Prime Minister. He has become a major focal point in current British politics and a significant topic of interest worldwide. Not only is he the first non-white leader of the Parliament, but he also comes into the head of the government at an eventful time.

This passing of power became essential after the resignation of former Prime Minister Lizz Truss, Sunak’s rival in the British Conservative Party. After a record-breaking forty-four days in office, Sunak succeeded Truss on October 25, 2022. His rise through the ranks has been no small feat, and he has achieved many things in a short amount of time.

Sunak has donned his position as Prime Minister during a time of much political and economic uncertainty within the UK. During his race against Truss for the election and continuing now, he believes that minimizing interest rates and inflation in the British economy is of utmost importance. After a lack of consideration for this monetary prioritization, Truss’ plans resulted in immense financial disruption, leaving the stage set for Sunak to work toward fixing the country’s unstable economy through his policies.

Before he entered office, Rishi Sunak honed his skills through his extensive background in politics, studies at Winchester College and Oxford University, and earned MBA from Stanford University. He even managed to gain more affluence after marrying Indian heiress Akshata Murthy in 2009, allowing him to penetrate the political scene much more easily. In 2015, Sunak started with humble beginnings in the British Parliament, serving as one of many representatives. Later down the line, he acquired the position of junior minister. He most notably became the Treasury Chief of the UK during Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s service in office. Sunak has earned these titles and many more in the government over the years.

Sunak’s political activity is known through the policies he advocates. For example, Sam Ryan, a sophomore from Central, cheerfully remarked how Prime Minister Sunak is “a true Brexit geezer.” The Prime Minister has pushed for major political movements and decisions, such as the UK’s departure from the European Union in January 2020, referred to as Brexit. He has tackled many significant debates in the world of British politics.

On another note, Soren Schrag, a junior at Central, commented, “While I think it is important for people of Indian heritage to be recognized in the British government, he is also a conservative leader and is super rich, which I don’t think the UK needs, especially considering that most people don’t stand with the conservatives.” He believes that “a general election should have been held instead.”

Meanwhile, Evani Pluta, a Central freshman, thinks, “It’s so important to see someone of color step up into the position of British Prime Minister, especially because Sunak, like many other Indian-Punjabs, is born and raised British, and should be a part of the image of his country as anyone else, This is really nice to see as someone of Indian descent myself.”

Rishi Sunak has a lot on his plate as the Parliament’s newest Prime Minister. Much lies ahead of his journey as their leader, and he has to fulfill many responsibilities as the UK looks to him to help fix their most pressing issues. His historic induction to power has brought attention to the inner workings of the British Parliament, and individuals around the world must be flexible to acclimate to Sunak’s service as Prime Minister.