By Oluwatosin Ajayi
Rishi Sunak has emerged as the prime minister of the UK, following Liz Truss’s resignation after 44 days.
The new prime minister defeated Penny Mordaunt and Boris Johnson, as he got more support from the Tory.
Here are 10 interesting facts about him.
1. He is British Asian
Sunak is the first man of color to become UK’s prime minster. He is a Briton, but born to Indian parents who migrated to Britain in the 1960s. Also, he is the first person practicing Hindu to hold this high ranking position in the UK.
2. He is the youngest PM
Since the history of the UK, Sunak is the youngest prime minister. He is 42 years born on May 12, 1980.
3. Wife had non-domicile status
The new prime minister’s wife Akshata Murty, had a non-domicile status. She paid £30,000 per year to retain her status and avoid paying taxes on foreign income. She later dropped the status after public outrage.
4. Russian Bloody Money Controversy
In the heat of the Russia-Ukraine war, Sunak urged British firms to stop investing in Russia. Following the statement, he lauded Shell and BP for doing so.
However, people criticized him for collecting blood money from Infosys (his father-in-law’s company) who never stopped trading with Russia.
Quoting Sunak, a Ukrainian member of parliament said, “Every company has the choice to make, you can run the business as usual, but you have to live with the fact it’s bloody money, and bloody trade.”
5. He is worth over £800 million
The new prime minister has a net worth of about £800 million. He is also one the wealthiest politician in Westminister.
6. He used to work with Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson appointed Sunak as the Britain’s chancellor of the Exchequer. As the chancellor, he was the government’s chief financial officer, and the second in command to the prime minister.
7. He came to the limelight fast
In 2015, he became a Member of Parliament for Richmond (Yorks) and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in 2019. A Chancellor in 2020 and finally Prime Minister in 2022. This political journey to the top happened within seven years.
8. He lost once
This is not the first time Sunak contested to become the UK prime minister. He contested in July and lost to Liz Truss who later resigned over her failed economic policy.
He attended the University of Oxford and Stanford University.
9. Sunak read philosophy, politics, and economics at Lincoln College in Oxford.
He was also selected as a Fulbright scholar at Stanford University where he had his MBA.
10. He loves sports
The 57th prime minister loves the Southampton Football Club. His favourite player while growing up was Matt Le Tissier. He also loves cricket.
