'This is what we call "coming full circle"': Canadians, world react to Rishi Sunak as the new UK prime minister
Rishi Sunak was installed as Britain's third prime minister of the year by King Charles on Tuesday, and will next appoint a cabinet that will have to wrestle with the U.K.'s economic and political crises.
Sunak emerged over former leader Boris Johnson and Penny Mordaunt in the truncated process to replace Liz Truss as leader. He was the only candidate with confirmed support from more than 100 lawmakers, the number needed to run in the election, with his backers claiming he has been endorsed by more than half of the 357 Conservative lawmakers in Parliament.
However, the elevation of the 42-year-old Indian-origin Tory leader - his parents migrated from East Africa to the UK - as the third British prime minister this year appears to have gladdened the hearts of many Indians. Even the sceptics cannot help but feel a tad triumphant.
Many Canadians, too, pointed out that the UK had come "full circle" with the first South Asian holding office in the UK.
Yet, at the same time, people couldn't help but notice Rishi Sunak's wealth.
This year, The Times of London estimated that Mr. Sunak and his wife, Akshata Murty, were worth more than $800 million, placing them among the 250 wealthiest British people or families. According to the report, the source of his wealth comes from a technology and hedge fund. Due to this, questions have swirled about whether, given his wealth, the multimillionaire and prime minister could relate to ordinary Britons grappling with a cost-of-living crisis.
Here is how many Canadians reacted to the news.
Man….after the British ruled India, who would ever have imagined a Hindu Prime Minister there named on Diwali of all days!
Gandhiji would be really proud today! Congrats @RishiSunak pic.twitter.com/OpP2uabAo2— Dr. Crypto ® (@askthedr) October 24, 2022
More reactions from around the world:
Sunak will now be moving into a Downing Street besieged by a colossal horde of problems. Britain’s rampant inflation and rocketing energy and food prices have thrown the economy into chaos, a menace made worse by Truss’ disastrous handling of public finances, which has left the nation’s fiscal reputation in urgent need of repair. Sunak will also likely be forced to preside over unpopular spending cuts at a time when workers in key sectors including transport and health are already striking over pay.
No comments:
Post a Comment