Rishi Sunak leads race to become next UK PM, here's all about the Indian-origin leader

Rishi Sunak, a former finance minister and son-in-law of Indian billionaire Narayana Murthy, has clinched his place for the final leg of the race to succeed Boris Johnson and will go head-to-head with Foreign Secretary Liz Truss as one of two finalists to take charge as new British Prime Minister.

Former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak launches leadership campaign in London (Photo: Reuters)

New Delhi: Rishi Sunak, former finance minister and Indian-origin leader, on Wednesday (July 20, 2022) clinched his place for the final leg of the race to succeed Boris Johnson and will go head-to-head with Foreign Secretary Liz Truss as one of two finalists to take charge as Conservative Party leader and new British Prime Minister. The 42-year-old won the fifth and final voting round of Tory MPs with a resounding 137 votes, while second-placed Truss got the support of 113 MPs. Trade Minister Penny Mordaunt was knocked out of the race after coming in third with 105 votes.

Sunak and Truss are now set for their first head-on clash in a live televised debate scheduled on the BBC for July 25.

We can only do this together.

Thank you.https://t.co/3cXn1rFhca #Ready4Rishi pic.twitter.com/iIopIiF5I9 — Ready For Rishi (@RishiSunak) July 20, 2022

Who is Rishi Sunak, the frontrunner to be Britain's next PM?

Rishi Sunak, the frontrunner to be UK's next PM, was born to an Indian family on May 12, 1980, in Southampton, United Kingdom. His family had migrated to Britain in the 1960s. 

I’m standing to be the next leader of the Conservative Party and your Prime Minister.

Let’s restore trust, rebuild the economy and reunite the country. #Ready4Rishi

Sign up  https://t.co/KKucZTV7N1 pic.twitter.com/LldqjLRSgF

— Ready For Rishi (@RishiSunak) July 8, 2022

He has studied at Winchester College, Oxford University, and Stanford University. Sunak has also enjoyed a successful business career and worked with companies from Silicon Valley to Bangalore. 

Rishi Sunak is son-in-law of Indian billionaire Narayana Murthy

The 42-year-old is the son-in-law of Indian billionaire NR Narayana Murthy, founder of Indian outsourcing giant Infosys Ltd. He met Akshata Murthy in California where he lived for several years before returning to the UK. They have two daughters, Krishna and Anoushka.

Recently, Akshata Murthy was also seen serving tea to journalists who were waiting for Sunak after Boris' resignation.

 After his shock resignation last night, Rishi Sunak's wife Akshata Murthy brings out a round of tea for journalists waiting for him to show his face. pic.twitter.com/Yt8ldN2aX9 — ITV News Calendar (@itvcalendar) July 6, 2022

Rishi and his wife Akshata had entered The Sunday Times UK Rich List at number 222 with a reported net worth of 730 million pounds, according to a report in May.

Rishi Sunak's political career

In July 2019, he was appointed Chief Secretary to the Treasury and entered Government service as the Minister for Local Government in January 2018. 

"I grew up watching my parents serve our local community with dedication. My dad was an NHS family GP and my mum ran her own local chemist shop. I wanted to make that same positive difference to people as their Member of Parliament," Sunak has said on his website. 

Sunak, who became finance minister in February 2020, was praised for a rescue package for the economy during the Covid-19 pandemic, including a jobs retention programme, which prevented mass unemployment, that could cost as much as 410 billion pounds ($514 billion). He, however, has also faced criticism for not giving enough cost-of-living support to households, and a fine he received, along with Boris Johnson, for breaking coronavirus lockdown rules. His tax-and-spend budget last year reportedly put Britain on course for its biggest tax burden since the 1950s, undermining his claims to favor lower taxes.

In his spare time, he enjoys cricket, football and movies.

It is noteworthy that Boris Johnson, who won a large majority in December 2019, announced last week that he would step down after a torrent of resignations from his ministers and with many Conservative Party lawmakers in open revolt.

The public rightly expect government to be conducted properly, competently and seriously.

I recognise this may be my last ministerial job, but I believe these standards are worth fighting for and that is why I am resigning.

My letter to the Prime Minister below. pic.twitter.com/vZ1APB1ik1 — Ready For Rishi (@RishiSunak) July 5, 2022

Whoever wins will face a daunting in-tray while having to rebuild public trust bruised by a series of scandals involving Johnson. Britain's economy is facing rocketing inflation, high debt, and low growth, leaving people grappling with the tightest squeeze on their finances in decades.

(With agency inputs)