BRITAIN APPOINTS ITS FIRST BRITISH ASIAN PRIME MINISTER
The United Kingdom on 24th October 2022, officially appointed its first Asian British Prime Minister (PM), Mr. Rishi Sunak. This came about after former PM, Liz Truss resigned from the position for failing to turn around UK’s profound economic crisis just 45 days into her term. This made her the shortest-serving MP in the country’s history.
Picture: Hon. Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister of Britain
Mr. Rishi Sunak who assumed office on 25th October 2022, is not just the first Asian British Prime Minister ever in Britain’s history but at 42 years, he is also the youngest Prime Minister in 200 years. Before his appointment, Mr. Sunak ran for the position of MP with Liz Truss in early September but lost to her with Truss winning by 81,326 to 60,399 votes. After her resignation, Mr. Sunak quickly amassed the support of his party members to surpass the 100,000 votes mark before the deadline day.
He was Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2020 to 2022 and Chief Secretary to the Treasury from 2019 to 2020. He has been a member of Parliament (MP) for Richmond (Yorks) since 2015.
Sunak was born in Southampton to parents of Indian descent who migrated to Britain from East Africa in the 1960s. His father was raised in Kenya whiles his mother was born in Tanzania. He was educated at Winchester College, earned a degree in philosophy, politics, and economics (PPE) at Lincoln College, Oxford, and had an MBA from Stanford University in California. After graduating, Sunak worked for Goldman Sachs and later as a partner at the Children's Investment Fund Management and Theleme Partners hedge fund firms.
Sunak said in a short speech that it is the "greatest privilege" of his life to "serve the party I love and give back to the country I owe so much to."
"There is no doubt that we face a profound economic challenge," he said. "We now need stability and unity, and I will make it my utmost priority to bring our party and our country together. That is the only way we will overcome our challenges and build a better, more prosperous future for our children and grandchildren."
Picture: Hon. Sunak, addressing the press
His rise as Prime Minister is envied by many and resembles the life of Joseph. Although he was not sold into captivity by his brothers, Sunak did rise to one of the highest positions in Britain, a country he did not originate from. His life and determination are one that many Christians should learn from. It does not matter if the place a believer finds himself may be where he feels uncomfortable so far as one keeps their faith in GOD and is consistent in work, no level is unattainable.