During the annual Conservative Party conference in Manchester, two of the UK’s highest-ranking officials showcased their Indian heritage in an effort to energize party supporters. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak proudly proclaimed, “I stand before you today as the first non-white leader in our country’s history.” Meanwhile, his Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, acknowledged the “wind of change that carried my own parents across the globe.”
While Braverman contrasted 20th-century demographic trends with the “hurricane” of contemporary migration impacting Europe, Sunak used his family’s journey from India through East Africa to underscore his indebtedness to British traditions. This message is part of Sunak’s broader strategy to reintroduce himself to the nation as he prepares to face voters for the first time as their leader.
“My grandparents did not emigrate solely to Leicester or Southampton but to the United Kingdom,” Sunak stated during his address. “They came here because our country embodies a set of values. We are the epitome of fair play, representing the best of British.”
This statement highlights how little emphasis has been placed on Sunak’s minority status since he assumed the role of prime minister following the consecutive resignations of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss last year. While Sunak has not concealed his heritage, he has discussed his practice of Hinduism in interviews, often wearing a red kalava string around his wrist as a symbol of his faith.
Leaders of South Asian descent, such as London Mayor Sadiq Khan and First Minister of the devolved Scottish government Humza Yousaf, have spoken about the significance of their roots. Khan has discussed the racism he faced during his upbringing, particularly amid a surge in hate crimes. Nonetheless, Sunak’s ascent to the highest echelons of government has garnered far less fanfare than, for instance, Barack Obama’s historic election as America’s first black president.
Sunak acknowledged this fact in his speech, expressing pride that being Britain’s first Asian prime minister “is just not a big deal.” Nevertheless, these comments underscore that Sunak’s heritage may become increasingly relevant as the nation approaches a general election, slated for January 2025.
On a personal level, Sunak’s forebears’ migration from the Punjab region of present-day Pakistan, ultimately settling in Britain, contributes to the backstory of a prime minister who has thus far elicited relatively little public enthusiasm. This was emphasized by Sunak’s decision to have his wife, Akshata Murty, introduce him at the conference, a departure from tradition and akin to American-style First Lady politics.
Sunak, a former Goldman Sachs Group banker, met Ms. Murty while studying at Stanford University. She is the daughter of Indian billionaire Narayana Murthy, a co-founder of Infosys Ltd., and her substantial personal fortune significantly bolsters Sunak’s status as Britain’s wealthiest-ever prime minister.
“Aspiration runs through his DNA just as it does through this party,” said Ms. Murty of her husband. “Aspiration drove his family many years ago to move to the UK.”
In a broader sense, Sunak must navigate the balance between Britain’s support for multiculturalism and mounting concerns over a record surge in migration, particularly asylum-seekers crossing the English Channel in small boats. Ms. Braverman, who oversees migration as Home Secretary, stated earlier that immigration was “already too high” and criticized the “misguided dogma of multiculturalism” during a speech in Washington.
Sunder Katwala, director of the British Future think tank, which explores attitudes toward identity and integration, observed, “Mr. Sunak is using his own story authentically in his account of it to place the Conservatives back in the middle of a debate. This isn’t an existential debate about the failure of British society; it’s a return to a debate about whether the immigration system can be effectively managed.”
The Conservative Party’s history with immigration is complex, marked by the late-1960s debate over Enoch Powell’s “Rivers of Blood” speech, which warned of the dangers of mass migration. The opposition Labour Party, holding its annual conference in Liverpool next week, has traditionally performed better in areas with substantial South Asian populations.
However, Sunak used his speech to present a vision of the Conservative Party as one of inclusivity and change. He highlighted that the party was led by Benjamin Disraeli, a Jewish premier, during Queen Victoria’s reign and had seen three female prime ministers. He also noted that Labour leader Keir Starmer was the third consecutive leader to reside in north London, despite growing up in suburban Surrey.
Sunak, for his part, has made “stopping the boats” one of his five pledges after taking office. He has pursued an aggressive deportation policy, advocating for housing asylum seekers on barges and deporting them to Rwanda. However, he has refrained from endorsing Braverman’s comments on multiculturalism, asserting that “we have done an incredible job of integrating people into society.
With his party trailing behind Labour in polls, Sunak’s recent rhetoric may be an attempt to secure support from an expanding segment of the British population with South Asian heritage. Many, like Sunak, supported Brexit. Recent census data indicates a growing immigrant population from India, a country with strong support for the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.
Embracing his heritage may also serve to humanize Sunak and soften his image as a wealthy individual. According to Sunder Katwala, “It becomes a relatable story because it’s about more universal themes of family, opportunity, aspiration, and community, rather than focusing solely on his current position.”
The Conservative Party has actively sought to foster a positive relationship with India and the Hindu population since coming to power in 2010. This includes hosting a massive concert in 2015 at Wembley Stadium to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi and opposing efforts to criminalize caste discrimination.
Presently, Sunak’s government and PM Modi’s administration are negotiating a trade agreement, which could further strengthen ties between the two nations. The Indian side is seeking provisions for freer movement of its workers to and from the UK, though Sunak maintains that a more lenient visa policy is not under discussion.
It remains to be seen whether Sunak’s embrace of his heritage will assist him in navigating Britain’s contentious immigration debate and overcoming perceptions that he is too affluent to relate to ordinary citizens.
Bronwen Maddox, Chief Executive of the Chatham House think tank, suggests, “It’s an attempt to counter other weaknesses in his pitch. He’s trying to appeal to various groups and dispel the notion that he is out of touch with ordinary people and will simply head to California if he loses.”