Rishi Sunak is the Man for the Season. Premature to Rejoice About his Elevation

The anointment of Rishi Sunak as the Prime Minister of the UK has generated a palpable euphoria in India. Though this is not the first time that people of Indian Origin or Indian roots have occupied the highest constitutional positions in foreign lands, fierce political mudslinging over the status of minorities in India once again dominated the social media and mainstream media. Sunak’s credentials as a practicing Hindu and his unapologetic display of symbolism have exacerbated these vengeful debates that attempted to portray India as a majoritarian.

Unfortunately, clouded by woeful amnesia even as critics continue to launch political tirades the decade-long leadership of Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister, Dr. Abdul Kalam as the President, and Sonia Gandhi as the head of the National Advisory Council of India are thankfully etched in chronicles of history to hold a mirror to perpetrators of bigoted narratives. The elevation of Rishi Sunak with his ancestral origins in one of the vassal states of the former Colonial Empire to lead it is certainly a momentous occasion. This remarkable feat coinciding with the Hindu festival of lights on the 75^th year of India’s independence has made it doubly significant.

Indeed, the nomination of Indian-origin Sunak as the leader of the Conservative Party months after India pushed the UK to become the fifth-largest economy is a real heart burn for some hardcore traditionalists. Against this opposition, the elevation of Sunak is certainly a huge leap forward in terms of breaking the shackles of class and race in modern society.

While Sunak’s rise to power was celebrated as the virtuosity of liberal democracy, he had to survive the skulduggery and backstabbing of the Tory leaders. He narrowly lost to Elizabeth Truss in the fifth round of the earlier party elections for the coveted post. Despite the critiques churning out tomes on “Fishy Rishi” and “Rishi Rich,” his elevation is certainly a recognition of talent in a race and class-obsessed society. The implosion of Trussonomics underscored the maladies afflicting the recession hit the UK economy. Bereft of alternatives, the business ecosystem rallied for Sunak.

Banking on his talent, competence, and extensive experience in markets, conservative MPs reposed faith in him. Hopeful of the economy getting back on track, the markets responded positively to his appointment. The markets have calmed down after the disastrous non-funded tax cuts of Truss. There are now some signs of economic stability.

Sunak’s commitment to pulling the economy out of inflation firmly bolstered his candidature as the best candidate for the job. His fiscal relief packages as Chancellor of the Exchequer during Covid despite their flaws were well received. Especially the “Eat Out to Help Out” was an instant hit and the hospitality sector profusely thanked him for rescuing them during the Covid. Fiscal conservatism, the defining rubric of his approach is now deemed a dire necessity to rescue the recession-hit economy.

Perceived as a non-ideologue with a laudable stint as a Chancellor, the conservative MPs picked him for the top job. Consequently, his origins became “incidental” and the leftist penchant to pick on him as “richer than the royals” had to bite the dust.

With five prime ministers in six years and a third prime minister in the past three months, the UK is reeling under political instability. The fractious infightings of the Conservative Party with a record high majority since 1987 were out in the open. Aside from political rifts, Sunak must brace for major challenges- surging inflation, protests, health crisis, and war in Europe. The task at hand for Rishi Sunak is clearly cut out.

Enlisting his priorities, in his inaugural address, the new Prime Minister said, “I will place economic stability and confidence at the heart of this government’s agenda”.  Promising to earn the trust not with his words but with actions, in a veiled dig at hardcore Boris Johnson’s loyalists, he said, “I know he (Boris) would agree that the mandate my party earned in 2019 is not the sole property of any one individual, it is a mandate that belongs to and unites all of us”¹.

At the helm of affairs managing a weakened economy amid geopolitically turbulent times, the enormity of challenges before Sunak is daunting. The burden of expectations is sky-high. With people’s eroding confidence in Conservative Party, Sunak must plod a difficult terrain of being compassionate towards the poor and not make tough decisions that can affect their living standards.  Labour party is quickly gaining ground. To strike a balance, Sunak is betting on the continuity of the policy of his predecessor.

Brexit has weakened the UK- economically and strategically. It is no longer part of Europe. Dependent on the US for support at the multilateral forums, the UK has deeply entrenched itself in the Western camp. Indeed, while the UK does not suffer from any direct threats from Russia, it has strongly backed Ukraine to be part of Western security systems. In fact, the UK is now the second largest military donor of Ukraine after the US. In keeping with its commitment, immediately after his inauguration, Sunak d up Ukrainian President Zelensky and pledged support.

After the US reluctance for an FTA, to bolster the economic fortunes, Boris Johnson placed his bets on India-UK FTA and pragmatically set Diwali deadline. The Party gate scandal crashed all his plans. Further, ‘Indian migrants overstay’ remark by Home Secretary Suella Braverman further dampened the prospects of an FTA. Stating that the open border migration policy with India is against the objectives of Brexit, Braverman kicked up a storm. Shortly after her controversial statements, Braverman resigned for committing a “technical infringement” which subsequently led to the fall of the Truss government.

Prospects of India-UK FTA brightened after Sunak formed the government. But by bringing back Braverman as the Home Secretary, Sunak who voted for Brexit, propped up anti-migrant stance. Migration has been a contentious issue and a major roadblock for India-UK economic cooperation since 2016.  PM Theresa May’s had to return empty-handed despite her charm offensive due to her restrictive migration policies.

For India, FTA makes real sense only if includes the movement of skilled workers to make up for the shortage of skills in the UK. Given, Braverman’s opposition to FTA with India over migration, the chances of FTA are now anybody’s guess. India welcomed Braverman’s induction born to a Goan father and a Tamilian mother into the Truss cabinet due to her Indian connection. She even attributed the Leicestershire attacks on Hindus to migration.

Similarly, Indians and people of Indian origin around the world rejoiced over the elevation of Rishi Sunak as the youngest Prime Minister of UK in the last 200 years for his Indian connections. This joy and celebration now seem to be premature and short-lived. While the chances of FTA are rather slim, India can certainly take forward the initiatives of defense and security cooperation.

Clearly beholden to the power brokers and influential conservative party leaders, Sunak will be forced to follow the party policies to the T. With so much hullabaloo about his Indian linkages he will be forced to prove that he is a more loyal Brit. Given the set of turbulent conditions, Sunak will be expected to uphold the interests of Britain more than ever and be tough towards India if need be.

Sunak is heading the country which needs a structural revamp- politically, socially, and economically. The UK is going through one of the weakest phases with even Scotland seeking either independence or greater autonomy. Any misstep or a tough decision can bolster Scottish Nationalist Party’s quest for independence.

Bequeathed a crown of thorns, Sunak was nominated by the Conservation Party to lead the country through the economic mess. By elevating Sunak, despite his race, Britain will symbolically use this card to flaunt its liberal values. Sunak is the man for this season with insurmountable tasks to accomplish.

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