UK: Rishi Sunak launches bid to replace PM Boris Johnson
Britain's ex-finance minister, Rishi Sunak, declared on Friday that he would run to replace Boris Johnson, who resigned as the United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister. "Someone has to grip this moment and make the right decisions. That's why I'm standing to be the next leader of the Conservative Party and your prime minister," Sunak stated in a Twitter campaign video.
Why does this story matter?
Sunak resigned as Finance Minister on Tuesday in protest of the Boris Johnson administration's misconduct, including sexual misconduct by a senior member of his government. Although Johnson will continue as a caretaker Prime Minister (PM) till the Conservatives elect their new leader, Sunak is seen as the main contender to succeed the US-born Johnson as the UK's 78th PM.
Family everything to me: Sunak launches bid for UK PM
In the video, the 49-year-old MP tells the story of his grandmother, who, as a young woman, boarded a plane to England "armed with hope for a better life." "She managed to find a job. But it took nearly a year to save enough money for her husband and children to follow," Sunak stated. He continues by saying that family is everything to him.
Here's the announcement video
What's his family background?
Sunak is of Indian ancestry, as his name also implies. His grandparents originated from Punjab. On May 12, 1980, he was born in Southampton, a port city in the United Kingdom. His father worked as a general practitioner in the National Health Service (NHS), while his mother owned her own pharmacy. If elected, he would be Britain's first prime minister of Indian origin.
Successful businessman, co-founder of investment firm
Prior to entering politics, the 42-year-old Sunak was successfully running his own business. His experience includes investment firms. He was also a co-founder of one of the large investment firms in the United Kingdom. His firm worked with companies, including those in Silicon Valley, California. He has also actively worked with India's IT companies based in Bengaluru.
Sunak, wife have net worth of £730 million
He is married to NR Narayana Murthy's daughter, Akshata Murty, and the two have two daughters. They met while attending college in California. The couple was ranked 222 in the 'Sunday Times Rich List 2022' with a combined net worth of £730 million. Notably, Murthy, his wife, is wealthier than the Queen, with reportedly a total estimated fortune of around £690 million.
Sunak had his share of controversies
Sunak has taken oath as a member of the House of Commons—the UK Parliament's lower house—on the Bhagavad Gita since 2017. He recently found himself embroiled in two major controversies. One was over his status as Johnson's "partner in crime," which later came to be known as "Partygate." The other was over the non-domicile status of his wife, leading to alleged non-payment of taxes.
