'This is what we call "coming full circle"': Canadians, world react to Rishi Sunak as the new UK prime minister
Rishi Sunak was installed as Britain's third prime minister of the year by King Charles on Tuesday, and will next appoint a cabinet that will have to wrestle with the U.K.'s economic and political crises.
Sunak emerged over former leader Boris Johnson and Penny Mordaunt in the truncated process to replace Liz Truss as leader. He was the only candidate with confirmed support from more than 100 lawmakers, the number needed to run in the election, with his backers claiming he has been endorsed by more than half of the 357 Conservative lawmakers in Parliament.
However, the elevation of the 42-year-old Indian-origin Tory leader - his parents migrated from East Africa to the UK - as the third British prime minister this year appears to have gladdened the hearts of many Indians. Even the sceptics cannot help but feel a tad triumphant.
Many Canadians, too, pointed out that the UK had come "full circle" with the first South Asian holding office in the UK.
Yet, at the same time, people couldn't help but notice Rishi Sunak's wealth.
This year, The Times of London estimated that Mr. Sunak and his wife, Akshata Murty, were worth more than $800 million, placing them among the 250 wealthiest British people or families. According to the report, the source of his wealth comes from a technology and hedge fund. Due to this, questions have swirled about whether, given his wealth, the multimillionaire and prime minister could relate to ordinary Britons grappling with a cost-of-living crisis.
Here is how many Canadians reacted to the news.
Congratulations, @RishiSunak. The partnership between our two countries is defined by the history – and the priorities – we share. As we work to deliver results for the people who call Canada and the United Kingdom home, let’s continue to strengthen this partnership.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) October 25, 2022
Conservative MP @RishiSunak is the new Prime Minister of United Kingdom--the first-ever person of colour, of Indian ancestry to head the government in London and move into 10 Downing Street. Bravo!
— Tarek Fatah (@TarekFatah) October 24, 2022
#BREAKING Rishi Sunak becomes the next Prime Minister of the UK
The first South Asian to hold the office
And this announcement coming on #Diwali
Historic day!— Natasha Fatah (@NatashaFatah) October 24, 2022
Rishi Sunak, a Hindu of Indian ancestry, is the next British Prime Minister.
This is what we call “coming full circle.”— Natasha Fatah (@NatashaFatah) October 24, 2022
Our first non-white, Hindu and Indian-origin PM - a big moment for our country! 🇬🇧
📸 @RishiSunak lighting diyas 🪔 on Downing Street on #Diwali, which is today. pic.twitter.com/VlEJDTXIvk— Sophie Ross (@sophierossuk) October 24, 2022
Man….after the British ruled India, who would ever have imagined a Hindu Prime Minister there named on Diwali of all days!
Gandhiji would be really proud today! Congrats @RishiSunak pic.twitter.com/OpP2uabAo2— Dr. Crypto ® (@askthedr) October 24, 2022
Rishi Sunak is the first person of colour and youngest person to have the keys to 10 Downing Street. https://t.co/0flxWzXKuV
— Farah Nasser (@FarahNasser) October 24, 2022
Rishi Sunak, a former banker, and his wife, Indian tech heiress Akshata Murty, have an estimated fortune of about 730m pounds, according to the Sunday Times Rich List. By comparison, Queen Elizabeth II was estimated to have about 370 million pounds. https://t.co/juA1cXANzZ
— Aarti Pole आरती (@aartipole) October 25, 2022
More reactions from around the world:
Rishi Sunak’s estimated wealth is £730 million.
A worker earning the median wage (£31,772) would need to have been working since the Stone Age 22,976 years ago to amass the same.
And that’s without tax.
Remember it when he tells you to tighten your belt.#EnoughIsEnough— Enough is Enough (@eiecampaign) October 24, 2022
It's a big day for UK. We've a new PM. He's young. His grandparents came from India, his parents from East Africa. He's a Hindu. It's a sign of a different UK compared to the country in which I grew up: Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India on UK's new PM #RishiSunak pic.twitter.com/FAQxxZTtyr
— ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2022
So Rishi Sunak – the richest MP in history – is going to become Prime Minister, with plans to cut funding for public services and slash workers' wages.
This Tory class war will be waged with no mandate, without a single vote being cast.
General election now! #EnoughIsEnough— Zarah Sultana MP (@zarahsultana) 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
Rishi Sunak is off to see the King; unclear if it’s to be appointed Prime Minister or if Charles would like to borrow some money
— Larry the Cat (@Number10cat) October 24, 2022
Rishi Sunak's wealth is so vast that it would take someone on the average UK salary over TWENTY-FOUR THOUSAND YEARS to earn that much.
Remember that when he's talking about "difficult decisions".
He doen't mean difficult for him. He means difficult for you.— Richard Burgon MP (@RichardBurgon) October 24, 2022
Sunak will now be moving into a Downing Street besieged by a colossal horde of problems. Britain’s rampant inflation and rocketing energy and food prices have thrown the economy into chaos, a menace made worse by Truss’ disastrous handling of public finances, which has left the nation’s fiscal reputation in urgent need of repair. Sunak will also likely be forced to preside over unpopular spending cuts at a time when workers in key sectors including transport and health are already striking over pay.