Rishi Sunak to be Named Next UK PM
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Former United Kingdom Treasury chief Rishi Sunak will become the nation's new prime minister after winning the leadership race on Monday when his only remaining rival, House of Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt, conceded and withdrew. Sunak will be the U.K.'s first non-white leader, and its first Hindu prime minister. He will now be invited to form a government by King Charles III.
Key Quotes: "I pledge that I will service you with integrity and humility," Sunak said Monday. "It shows that public service in the highest office in Britain can be open to those of all faiths and ethnic backgrounds. This will be a source of pride to many British Asians - including many who do not share Rishi Sunak’s Conservative politics," said Sunder Katwala of the British Future, a think tank which focuses on identity and race.
For Context: Sunak had correctly predicted that Liz Truss's plans to slash taxes on the wealthy would result in the fiscal chaos which led to her exit last week as the shortest-serving U.K. prime minister ever. That warning, combined with the fact that Sunak had come in second in the leadership race against Truss, helped make him the early favorite to replace her. Former PM Boris Johnson had mounted efforts for another run, but was convinced by Sunak to withdraw on Sunday for the good of the Conservative Party.
How The Media Covered It: Sources across the political spectrum noted the significance of Sunak's becoming the first non-white U.K. prime minister, with some left-rated sources focusing more on the milestone.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Center
Rishi Sunak: A quick guide to the UK’s next prime minister
He's won after running for the second time this year
He lost to Liz Truss in September, but she resigned six weeks later. In the latest leadership contest, Mr Sunak racked up the support of his fellow MPs early, and fast. He crossed the 100 nominations he needed long before the deadline - including from MPs that had previously backed Truss or Boris Johnson.
He "predicted" financial problems under Truss
He clashed with Liz Truss during the previous leadership contest, claiming her plan to borrow money during an inflation crisis...
From the Right
Rishi Sunak to be named UK’s first non-white prime minister
Former UK Treasury chief Rishi Sunak won the race to become the new prime minister on Monday, the third since the summer and the nation’s first non-white leader.
Sunak won the latest leadership battle after his only remaining rival, Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt, conceded and withdrew.
“Rishi has my full support,” Mordaunt said in a concession statement.
Sunak will now be invited by King Charles III to form a government.
The results of the race will make the multi-millionaire former hedge fund boss Britain’s first non-white leader and the first...
From the Left
Rishi Sunak to become first British PM of colour and also first Hindu at No 10
Rishi Sunak is about to become the UK’s first prime minister of colour and the first Hindu prime minister, both milestones in Britain’s evolution as a multicultural and multi-faith society.
Although there has been a marked increase in politicians of colour being appointed to senior cabinet roles, including the key posts of chancellor, home secretary and foreign secretary, the UK has never had a black or brown prime minister before.
It was “an historic moment” that would “simply would not have been possible even a decade or two ago,” said...
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