On the 5th of September, the UK will have a new Prime Minister to critique and hold accountable. While the contest is going neck to neck between Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, one cannot rule out the possibility of a small dream the ethnic minorities may have had during the #Ready4Rishi campaign. Seeing someone like them in both origin and colour of skin, inevitably fuels hope within the community that is always striving to fight for its rights and against racism.
With just a few days away from knowing the outcome of the Conservative Party leadership race, it is imperative to reiterate, that if Rishi Sunak wins, the 42-year-old will be the first Asian-origin or British Indian Prime Minister of the country. Whether or not he wins, the community will always remember this time, when a person of colour rose to fight an egalitarian battle for a position of power in a country with majority of white population.
While his bureaucratic views and approach towards tackling the looming socio-economic crisis in the UK are the prime parameters for most critics, for the British Indian community, Sunak is still the young man with his roots in Southampton where he worked with his parents in their pharmacy and delivered medicines to homes. He continues to maintain his stance on tackling inflation over cutting down taxes and has gone on record in the media to say that he’d rather lose than win on false promises.
Rishi Sunak’s laurels, accomplishments and economic stature are arguably a result of his political and business acumen and have certainly not emerged from a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. His wife serves tea to guests who come home, he drops his kids at school in the morning and together, the Sunaks have seen a gradual rise in their status and popularity, despite being heavily criticised during his tenure in Boris Johnson’s government.
In an EXCLUSIVE interview with Asian Voice on Tuesday, as Rishi Sunak looked through the copies of our newspapers and magazines, he spoke to us about his understanding of his perception within the community, the political gamble he continues to navigate and more.
AV: Ever since you began the #Ready4Rishi campaign, the hopes of Indians at home and the diaspora soared towards your candidature as the leader of the Tory party and our future PM. Do you sense that pressure at all? What does this mean to you?
It was David Cameron who said that we would be the first Party to deliver a British Indian Prime Minister. He was right, and I’m immensely proud to be in the final two for the top job.
I’m grateful to all of those who have helped me along the way. It has been humbling to receive the backing and endorsements of so many people from different walks of life and backgrounds.
I do feel a great sense of responsibility. I am asking people to put their faith in me to lead our country, through what is going to be an incredibly challenging period. Throughout this campaign, I have been honest with people and told the country not what it wants to hear, but what it needs to hear. That hasn’t made things easy, but I believe that it is the right thing to do.
AV: What has your experience been while campaigning within the British Indian community? Have you gotten to know their perception of you better while interacting more with them?
I’ve really enjoyed being out across the country, campaigning and meeting members from across the Party. People have been asking some incredibly pertinent questions and haven’t been shy about sharing their views, so it’s been really interesting having that time to connect with the grassroots of the Party. Whether at a cricket club in a small rural village or at the Conservative Friends of India event in Harrow which was attended by over 600 people, each interaction has been helpful, and they have reaffirmed my view that we must grip inflation, tackle the NHS backlogs and restore trust in our politics.
I hope Members have also been able to get to know more about me and my values. I’m conscious that the first time most people saw me was during the difficult times of the pandemic. Hopefully, over this campaign period, people have been able to learn a bit more about what I stand for and how I want to help Britain to thrive.
AV: Does being a proud British Hindu and British Indian hinder your ambition to be a Prime Minister of a country that is so diverse and has majority white population? Do you think Britain is ready for a Prime Minister from an ethnic/Asian community after all?
Yes, the country is ready - I don’t think it hinders it all, and the commentariat probably said the same thing about a female Prime Minister before Mrs Thatcher and were wrong then.
I’ve been very open that my faith means a great deal to me. Again, I don’t see this as a hindrance in the slightest - rather a strength - as millions of people in our country have faith. My experience is that people respect one another’s faiths and backgrounds in this country. As well as being proud of my faith I am proud of the traditions and history of this great country that we are all fortunate to call home.
This leadership contest has also shown the breadth of talent we have within the Conservative Party. We had a slate of great candidates throughout the contest, from a wide range of different backgrounds, and that’s something we should all feel very proud of. It would only happen in the Conservative party.
In an earlier interview, speaking to Asian Voice about his upbringing and family, attributing his success to the values of hard work and education among immigrants in the UK, he said, “I'm standing here because like many of you, this country did something incredible for our families. And it welcomed them here as immigrants. My mum ran the local chemist in Southampton where I grew up, my dad was an NHS GP, and I was brought up with a certain set of values. I was brought up to believe that family is everything and family provides the bond that no government could hope to replicate.
“I was brought up to believe in hard work. Because if you work hard, there is nothing that you can't achieve in life. I was brought up to believe in the power of education to transform people's lives, that it was worth sacrificing for, because that's how you build a better future. And I was brought up to understand the power of small business, I worked in my mum’s shop, I worked in her pharmacy, I delivered medicines for her, I worked in an Indian restaurant as a waiter. And I saw first-hand doing books or accounts or payroll, just how powerful small companies are in providing jobs and opportunities for people in their community. Now, those are my values. I know, they're all your values, too. Those are the values that we cherish that we hold dear. But they are also Conservative values. And that is why I want to be Prime Minister, because this country did something great for my family, enabled them and all of us to build a better life for our children.”
AV: You continue to stand by your mission to control inflation as averse to your opponent Ms Truss who wants to cut down taxes. Is the difference in the sensibility of the party bigger than the fate of the British economy? If not adhered to with the right approach, what will this mean for UK’s financial future?
I have been honest with people throughout this contest that the number one challenge that we face is inflation. Inflation is the enemy that makes everyone poorer and we must bring it under control as a priority. We must also support people with the cost of living this winter as it’s going to be really tough for working families and pensioners. Covid and Putin’s war is not their fault and we have to support people through this challenging winter, whilst improving our domestic energy security so we have secure affordable energy for winters to come.
As Thatcher showed, you have to do the hard work first, to create a firm foundation for growth. I will cut taxes sustainably and reform public services, but I won’t borrow billions to do this as that’s not fair on our children which will have to pay it off. I’ve been humbled that Thatcher’s economic advisers are supporting my approach.
AV: You've maintained the fact that you truly are a Briton at heart while having roots in India. Should you win the leadership race, what measures are you looking to implement to cater to the sufferings of the ethnic minority community in the UK?
This country did something incredible for my family, by welcoming my parents and grandparents and providing an opportunity to start a new life here. I want everyone, regardless of their ethnicity, gender or background, to feel the same way, so they know that opportunities exist for people.
I want everyone in this country to feel they have the opportunity to succeed if they work hard and do the right thing. That’s why education would be a big focus for me as Prime Minister - a good education is the closest thing we have to a silver bullet when it comes to making peoples’ lives better.
AV: You were brutally criticised for your financial stature and statements about the working class that you made as a youngster while growing up in Britain – working at your parents’ pharmacy. Do you think Britons have the acumen to differentiate and possibly forgive a younger Sunak from the leadership party candidate who has much more to offer to the country with his experience and intent?
My grandparents and parents worked incredibly hard when they moved to this country. They set up a home, started a family and played an important role in some key public services, such as the local GP surgery and pharmacy in Southampton.
I believe people in this country appreciate that work ethic and want to see everyone making the most of the opportunities before them, so they too can own a home, start a family and give their children the best education possible.
I’m very grateful for the opportunities I’ve had and if I’m elected as Prime Minister, I would do my level best to spread opportunity across the country.
AV: You recently told the BBC that “One thing I have reflected on quite a bit being in government, in the cabinet the last few years -- you need to agree with the big things." Could you elaborate on what those big things would potentially be and how will that culture change within the system if you win the leadership race?
The biggest issues facing our great country now are the rising cost of living and inflation. Tackling these issues should be the priority for any incoming government and I have a plan to grip this moment.
I’ve spoken quite a lot on the campaign trail about the need to restore trust in our politics, and I would lead by example. I want the wider public to see a Government squarely focused on getting a grip on inflation, tackling NHS backlogs and spreading opportunities across our great country.
My promise to Conservative members above all else is that the government I lead would be run properly, competently and seriously.
