Twitter reacts to Rishi Sunak as Britain’s new Prime Minister

In an overnight switch of leadership, Rishi Sunak has been announced as the new Prime Minister of Britain, less than two months after he unsuccessfully ran for the post and lost out to Liz Truss.

He will now be leader of the Conservative Party and will be the third politician to assume the country’s highest political office in seven weeks. He will be the country’s first PM of colour and the youngest prime minister in modern political history.

Coming from Punjabi heritage, his grandparents on both sides were from India and had migrated to East Africa in the 1960s. His parents were born and brought up in Kenya and Tanzania, and Sunak himself was born in Southampton in 1980.

However, his appointment has gotten a mixed reception both in Britain and internationally. For many, Sunak as the nation’s first British Asian leader, and first leader of Hindu faith, is a marked step towards diversity in politics.

However, this celebration of diversity has come with increased focus on his background as one of the richest men in Parliament, a far cry from claims of being “one of the people”, even as the country battles a cost-of-living crisis.

Warmest congratulations @RishiSunak! As you become UK PM, I look forward to working closely together on global issues, and implementing Roadmap 2030. Special Diwali wishes to the ‘living bridge’ of UK Indians, as we transform our historic ties into a modern partnership.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 24, 2022

Rishi Sunak as the first Asian PM of the UK is a milestone for diversity. What is striking is how many from black and minority ethnic backgrounds have made it to the upper echelons of the British Conservative Party: Cleverly, Javid, Zahawi, Patel, Braverman, Badenoch, Kwarteng

— Tim Soutphommasane (@timsout) October 24, 2022

While I strongly disagree with Rishi Sunak’s politics and question his mandate, it’s important to recognise the significance of Britain’s first Prime Minister of South Asian heritage.

It’s not something our grandparents would ever have imagined when they made the UK home.

— Anas Sarwar (@AnasSarwar) October 24, 2022

As much as I disagree with Rishi Sunak’s politics, it is pretty extraordinary to see a South Asian background MP rise to become Prime Minister of the UK. Basically an unimaginable scenario in Australia at the moment. There’s so much work to do.

— Mehreen Faruqi (@MehreenFaruqi) October 24, 2022

Congratulations to Rishi Sunak on becoming Prime Minister.

A huge step fwd for diversity to see this privately educated, Oxbridge millionaire reach the top. Inspiring stuff.

— Aid has a podcast! (@aidThompsin) October 24, 2022

As Chancellor of the Exchequer, he was heavily criticised last year for axing a £20-a-week increase to Universal Credit that would have assisted some of the poorest families through the pandemic. He has criticised rivals for proposing big tax cuts as offering “fairy tales” and has reiterated his stance for “traditional Conservative economic values.”

Meanwhile, his wife Akshata Murthy is the daughter of Infosys founder N. R. Narayana Murthy, with a net worth of about $US1.3 billion ($1.8 billion) and was recently in the news for not paying up to £20 million UK tax on her overseas income.

This has all led to understandably mixed emotions among the diaspora on the new British PM.

Rishi being our first ever poc and south Asian PM doesn’t really do much for us. It may even make things worse. I’d rather have no representation than a bad one.

— a. (@sadspongeballs) October 24, 2022

I’m not saying Rishi Sunak is a bad bloke, but how can someone who comes from extreme wealth, relate to the working class? Hows he gonna be able to help the public when he’s had a silver spoon? This country needs to be run by people who understand the struggles of everyday life!

— Thomas Skinner ⚒ (@iamtomskinner) October 24, 2022

Rishi Sunak and his wife sit on a fortune of £730,000,000.

That’s around twice the estimated wealth of King Charles III.

Remember this whenever he talks about making “tough decisions” that working class people will pay for.

— Nadia Whittome MP (@NadiaWhittomeMP) October 24, 2022

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