The United Kingdom is gearing up for an intense electoral battle on July 4. The contest is going on between the ruling Conservative Party led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his rival Keir Starmer’s Labour Party in what is being called one of the most high-profile electoral battles globally.
In October 2022, Mr Sunak, 44, becomes the first Indian-origin British prime minister and the youngest person to head 10 Downing Street in 210 years. This comes at a time when the country was going through a major political upheaval, with the successive resignations of two former prime ministers, Boris Johnson and his successor Liz Truss.
Ahead of crucial elections this week, let’s revisit the moment Mr Sunak came to power:
In 2015, Mr Sunak was elected as the Conservative MP for Richmond, Yorkshire. A lifelong Brexiteer, he campaigned to leave the economic bloc, and he got his first ministerial post under Theresa May in 2018, as number three in the newly renamed Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
He later endorsed Boris Johnson for Prime Minister.
2019 UK elections
The Conservative Party led by Boris Johnson emerged victorious in the 2019 elections, winning 365 of the 650 seats. Johnson remained Prime Minister, while Mr Sunak was appointed Treasury Secretary under then Chancellor Sajid Javid.
Later, when Mr Javid resigned from the post due to a power struggle, Mr Sunak was promoted to the role of Chancellor. Sunak thus became the first minister of Indian origin to hold one of the highest positions in the UK government.
Mr Sunak was praised for his series of mini-budgets during the Covid-19 lockdown, introducing measures such as the furlough scheme which saved many jobs and businesses. He had been seen as the clear favourite to succeed Johnson as Tory leader.
Rishi Sunak vs Liz Truss
In 2022, when Mr Johnson announced his decision to resign as UK prime minister following a massive revolt by ministers over his leadership, prompted by major scandals including Partygate, both Mr Sunak and Ms Truss launched their bids to succeed Johnson.
Eventually, Ms Truss won the Conservative Party leadership race and became the new British Prime Minister. However, six weeks later, Ms Truss had to resign due to open rebellion.
Rishi Sunak becomes Prime Minister
Mr Sunak makes history and becomes Britain’s prime minister in October 2022 after Penny Mordaunt, the last remaining rival in the Tory leadership contest, dropped out of the race.
At the time, Mr Sunak had reportedly secured the public backing of around 200 of his Conservative MP colleagues to become Britain’s new Prime Minister, succeeding Truss.