Britain welcomes its first brown Prime Minister

As of Tuesday, the United Kingdom welcomed its first brown Prime Minister… Well, that is not entirely accurate. Gordon Brown was in charge from 2007-2010. Nevertheless, as Rishi Sunak (or Rashi Sanook as US president Joe Biden mistakenly referred to him recently) attempts to steady the ship and correct the colossal mistakes made by his predecessor Liz Truss, we ask the question: will Sunak be a good leader for working class people, or will he be easily influenced by foreign actors and others in high places? [1]

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Sunak’s in-laws targeted by Modi and BJP The British PM identifies as a proud Hindu Yet another well-to-do unelected Tory leader in Downing Street

To begin, it is worth remembering that Sunak has been a member of parliament for just seven years. Of these seven years, he has been in cabinet for more than half. His astronomical rise to power has been met with surprise and alarm, and his family fortune of a reported £730 million is constantly under increasing scrutiny. Indeed, Sunak is currently reported to be the wealthiest MP in Westminster, in large part thanks to his wife Akshata Murthy’s minor stake in the Indian tech company, Infosys, which was founded by her father in 1981. [2]

As a former Goldman Sachs analyst and hedge fund partner, Sunak was seen as an experienced pair of hands while Chancellor between 2020 and 2022. However, what is questionable as he gets underway leading government business is his indirect and one-sided connection to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Soon after Sunak was confirmed as the next Prime Minister of Britain, Modi sent his congratulations on Twitter. However, a few years earlier in May 2019, there was a very public spat involving Sunak’s mother- and father-in-law and the Modi government.

Sunak’s in-laws targeted by Modi and BJP

Despite his enormous wealth, N. R. Narayana Murthy, the founder of Infosys and Sunak’s father-in-law, is widely respected for his modest living and philanthropic character. However, on making rare and outspoken comments that included warning, “There is considerable fear in the minds of [the] minority in India”, he was rapidly targeted by Modi and the BJP machinery. [3]

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

The charitable arm of Infosys, the Infosys Foundation, was one of over a thousand entities that the government bizarrely accused of receiving foreign funds, closely following Murthy’s complaint that India had “the poorest health, dirtiest rivers, highest pollution and [one of the] poorest primary education” systems in the world. He had also condemned the Modi government by claiming that it was filling “textbooks with ideological fantasies and entrusting its top institutions with right wing fellow-travellers”. [3]

However, after the BJP government started hounding Murthy and his foundation, he felt no choice but to change his tone. Within weeks of the accusations being made against his charitable organisation, Murthy started praising India’s economy, even going as far as to suggest that it was at its strongest position in 300 years. [3]

With the ability of Narendra Modi and the BJP to unfairly target not only political opponents but also widely respected business leaders who make comments that may be viewed as being remotely critical, it is hard to see how Rishi Sunak (and wife Akshata Murthy) will be safe from such manipulative behaviour.

Some may question why the spouse of a British Prime Minister needs any mention, but it is important to mention Sunak’s wife, as former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s wife, Carrie, was strongly criticised in the past for her undue influence on government business, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic. [4]

The British PM identifies as a proud Hindu

Amitabh Mattoo, an international relations expert, told German broadcaster DW on Tuesday that there was a significant change for Indians in the UK following the start of Sunak’s premiership:

“His elevation to PM signals the coming of age of the Indian diaspora. Unlike the US, where young professionals form the bulk of the diaspora, in the UK, for generations they were part of the underbelly of the country. He is part of this success story that is commanding attention now,” [5]

When Sunak was appointed as Chancellor of the Exchequer in 2020, it is understood that he took the oath of office while placing his hands on the Bhagavad Gita – a sacred Hindu scripture. And speaking in 2017 after entering Theresa May’s cabinet, Sunak emphasised his Hindu roots and said,

“I am now a citizen of Britain. But my religion is Hindu. My religious and cultural heritage is Indian. I proudly say that I am a Hindu and my identity is also a Hindu.” [5]

Yet another well-to-do unelected Tory leader in Downing Street

Sunak has spoken a good deal about making difficult decisions that will affect many millions of working class people in the country. But in no way can it be said that he has the capacity to fully appreciate what people such as those who survive on state benefits and struggle to make ends meet on a day-to-day basis will be feeling when such decisions are taken.

Rishi Sunak warns of ‘profound economic challenges’, like whether to keep his private swimming pools heated once he moves into Downing Street.
— Have I Got News For You (@haveigotnews) October 25, 2022

A prime example of the ever-widening gulf between Sunak’s wealth and that of the average Briton can be seen in his decision to build an indoor swimming pool at his North Yorkshire residence in early 2022. On top of the pool installation, various reports have stated that a tennis court is also being constructed at the multi-million pound mansion. And to put things further into perspective, heating costs for the pool alone will reportedly come to an eye-watering £13,000 a year. [6]

He may be the Prime Minister of the UK, but Sunak has not been elected by the electorate and is as such, more of an appointee than a legitimate leader. It is not sufficient that a leader should be selected by parliamentary members of the governing party of the day, particularly when there are just under 50 million registered voters in the country who have not had their voices heard prior to the past three Prime Ministers having entered into No. 10. [7]

As Leader of the Opposition and Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer has demanded again and again, the country urgently needs a general election in order to choose its government and restore faith in politics and in democracy.