24 October 2022

UK’s first British Asian PM ‘an historic moment’

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As Rishi Sunak today became Britain’s first British Asian Prime Minister, British Future Director Sunder Katwala spoke about and what it means for British public life and our society.

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Steve Ballinger
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steve@britishfuture.org

As Rishi Sunak today became Britain’s first British Asian Prime Minister, British Future Director Sunder Katwala spoke about and what it means for British public life and our society.

Sunder Katwala, Director of British Future, said:

“Rishi Sunak becoming the first British Indian Prime Minister is an historic moment. This simply would not have been possible even a decade or two ago.
“It shows that public service in the highest office in Britain can be open to those of all faiths and ethnic backgrounds.

“This will be a source of pride to many British Asians – including many who do not share Rishi Sunak’s Conservative politics. It will be especially meaningful to the first generation of migrants, like my father, who arrived in 1968 when politics was dominated by Enoch Powell’s call to ‘send them back’.

“Most people in Britain now rightly say the ethnicity and faith of the Prime Minister should not matter. They will judge Sunak on whether he can get a grip on the chaos in Westminster, sort out the public finances, and restore integrity to politics.

“But we should not underestimate this important social change. When Sunak was born in Southampton in 1980, there had been no Asian or Black MPs at all in the post-war era. There were still no black or Asian Conservative MPs when he graduated from university in 2001.

“That Rishi Sunak is set to be Prime Minister during the Coronation of King Charles III next Spring tells an important story about our society, where we have come from and where we are going in the future.

“I hope that Sunak will acknowledge that not everybody has enjoyed his advantages in life. Rishi Sunak reaching 10 Downing Street does not make Britain a perfect meritocracy. While there is more to do, this is a hopeful sign of progress against the prejudices of the past.  National politics has set the pace – and business, public services and charities should accept the challenge to reflect modern Britain too.”

Polling for British Future’s Jubilee Britain report this year asked the public how they would feel about an ethnic minority Prime Minister. Only 10% said they would feel negative; while 26% would feel positive and a further 58% said that the ethnic background of the Prime Minister is not relevant.

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