What Rishi Sunak’s Position as UK Prime Minister Means to India – Progress or Drawback?
Liz Truss’ six weeks in office makes history as she became the shortest-serving Prime Minister in the United Kingdom’s. Her resignation became an opportunity for Rishi Sunak to claim the position. Sunak’s rise on October 25, 2022 was no less of a mark in history as he became the first Indian-born Hindu Prime Minister. His journey to power was accepted as a victory for both the Conservative Party and people of color, supposedly appeasing the wider communities of the U.K. However, the celebration of Truss’ resignation blurred the views of the people – their previous critiques shadowed by Sunak’s identity. Their initial critiques include financial credibility and climate responsibility that the Conservative party have been failing to address. Consequently, Sunak’s ethnicity does not eradicate his ideals nor the goals of the Conservative Party. These conflicting representations have led to the central issue of whether or not the anti-immigration views of his party are specifically harmful to British Indians and India at large.
Sunak’s administration might pose detrimental effects both for British Indians and India. Even in the first few days after Sunak was named Prime Minister, he made controversial decisions, like delaying UK’s fiscal plans that were considered as problematic by many, including social democrat MP Chris Bryant from the Labour Party. Bryant compared Sunak with Truss and Boris Johnson stating that Sunak was not much better when it comes to integrity and professionalism. Bryant, along with many others, voiced their doubts over Sunak’s right-wing platform.
In any case, one event that gained the most publicity is Sunak’s relationship with Suella Braverman. Before Suella Braverman left the Truss administration, she made a damaging comment about Indians, stating “-look at migration in this country - the largest group of people who overstay are Indian migrants.” Controversial as it was, after Sunak entered the office, he brought Braverman back as Home Secretary. Would Braverman’s role as Home Secretary pose a threat to the Indian community?
Although the decision to rehire Braverman doesn’t necessarily mean that there would be a direct shift in the inner workings of the government, it does mean that it would provide her with more platform to alter policies. Moreover, Braverman’s track record when it comes to immigration certainly engendered a certain level of concern from the society. More explicitly, she expressed her opposition to the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India as it might increase the number of Indian migrants in Britain. The fact remains that under the leadership of Sunak, the merging of Braverman’s anti-immigrant ideals and his own conservative objectives will undoubtedly impact the immigrant community.
The party’s plans on international affairs don't only concern immigration, but also UK’s free trade relations. If it is true that the new board is against the Free Trade Agreement and will take actions in implementing new regulations, the trajectory of development in which India is heading might be hindered. Free trade agreements allow the countries involved to trade goods and services without tariffs, protecting nations involved. Specifically for India, the U.K. is emphasizing its efforts in ensuring the agreements would lead to the reduction of trade barriers and elimination of tariffs. Last January, India and the U.K. began negotiations on trade relationships that would allow them to double bilateral trade to $100 billion. Days before Sunak was elected, India's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal affirmed that their agreements remain “on track,”
Nevertheless, with Braveman’s direct comments appearing to show her belief as definite, one wonders: can an event seemingly so celebrated by the Indian community also lead to economic and social drawbacks in India?
Although Sunak’s win could be seen by some as a “Diwali gift,” when he was elected on the 75th anniversary of Indian independence from Britain, he may not be the best representative for India. As much as people see appointing an Indian-born candidate as a sign of progress, we cannot disregard Sunak’s incredible privilege. The co-founder of South Asian Heritage Month, Jasvir Singh, acknowledged that only South Asians that have “immense social and economic privilege can ‘break the glass ceiling’.” Before he was involved in politics, Sunak was already a multi-millionaire – working for Goldman Sachs combined with the fact that Sunak’s father-in-law, Narayana Murthy, is one of the richest men in India. Unsurprisingly, his considerable advantage notably influenced his introduction to politics and eventual rise to power.
While it is true that Rishi Sunak was born from immigrant parents, he was also brought up in wealth with access to elite education, automatically putting him in a privileged position. Evidently, we shouldn’t let his identity, coming from an ethnic minority, distract us from his financial privilege. The consequences of Sunak’s campaigns as Prime Minister have yet to be seen, but it will unquestionably impact India, may it be directly through the socio-economic relations or indirectly through anti-immingration laws.
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