WHO IS RISHI SUNAK?
The elevation of Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister has predictably sparked a mixed bag of reactions depending on political hue. While a saviour from the catalogue of errors made by Liz Truss, however well meaning her beliefs are, evidently the jury is out on his ability to lead the UK out of the economic and social maelstrom, which is testing the resilience and unity of people as a whole, back to the land of milk and honey. He says he wants to be judged by his actions not his words, which resound about honestly communicating and addressing difficult issues and compassion for the most vulnerable. Some, possibly with a hostile view of him, such as Sherelle Jacobs in the Daily Telegraph of 1 November, have questioned whether he is perhaps an empty brand, void of substance, a creature of “slick Instagram videos”. He is described by some as a technocrat, lacking in imagination. Others admire his mental abilities, his empathetic approach to people and his integrity. The months ahead may show where the balance truly lies, as to his character and competence or incompetence. However, it might be imagined that whatever he does he will be damned in certain quarters. Those who, when it suits them, like to portray Government duty to remove all financial and other pain from the public’s lives, will always find an easy cane with which to beat the Government, of whatever political persuasion.
REASONS TO CELEBRATE?
However, there are perhaps two aspects of his appointment to be celebrated, one short term and the other more lasting. First, the reaction of fickle markets was approval of an expected return to prudence before bravado on economic stability. The cost of UK borrowing dropped and is now back to “normal”. The pound stabilised, albeit it is bound to trade weakly against the U.S. Dollar, as are all currencies for now due to, among other things, US high interest rates. A level of financial patience has taken root awaiting the new delayed budget to explain how UKGOV will cover its expenses including debt servicing, costs having been escalated by the necessary subsidy of unaffordable energy prices and with the continuing shadow of Putin’s disgusting murderous war. If people are grateful for the calming of troubled waters, and generally they are, any kudos could prove short-lived. Unless among the British people and institutions a realisation that pulling together and short-term pain is needed for longer term gain becomes the accepted philosophy, the inevitable belt-tightening and squeeze on living standards may create divisions and resentments beyond repair.
Second, and widely appreciated and celebrated, is the fact that Rishi Sunak is the first UK PM of colour, a British Indian. Many commentators, politicians, and members of the public have lauded this evidence of a real and practical acceptance of a diverse and multi-cultural society, predominantly white and, not just tolerant, but meritocratic. Another Daily Telegraph writer, in an article headlined “Ignore the cynics. Britain has become the greatest melting pot in the world”, said “no-one has made a fuss about Sunak’s ethnicity – and that silence speaks volumes”.Meanwhile in the U.S.A. the response of the host of U.S. TV “Daily Show”, Trevor Noah, was to talk of Indians taking over the UK and of British bigots, a them and us approach, a complete and perhaps malicious fabrication: it is sad that any people react with spiteful negativity to the success of any other person or society where real social and racial progress has been made. Surely too it should be a hopeful sign that there is unity among Britons of various origins, faiths and backgrounds that a practising Hindu can reach the highest office in the land is progress.
Yet some say or imply that Rishi Sunak is a charlatan. For example, Pankaj Mishra in the Guardian of 29 October displayed outright hatred for him and his kind, by which he spelled out he meant Conservatives of colour such as Priti Patel and Kemi Badenoch. He refers to how the hasty promotion to Prime Minister “emboldens insolent racists [Conservatives] to present themselves as the purveyor of racial diversity”. It is of course entirely acceptable, and a merit of a society which embraces freedoms, for a writer to disagree with political postures and be critical and question motive. But the spitting spite of this article, with phrases like “a devout Hindu in a tie and a cashmere hoodie… says a great deal about the ideological dementia of the Tory party. The turd-polishing abilities of centrist-dad liberalism…” The feeling of racist hate of people of colour but of different backgrounds and opinions by another Asian person which emerges from the article reflects another social issue indicating a long way to go to embed tolerance and healthy debate in UK discussions.
CONFLICTING CHARACTERISATIONS
There is a lack of meaningful dirt, or material which opponents can use to smear, around Rishi Sunak which must frustrate his opponents. They point to his fine received for being briefly at Boris Johnson’s birthday party, which “crime” is manifestly paltry, political and accidental. Some may despise his “privilege” of a good schooling on which his immigrant parents chose to spend their cash and others his seeming success intellectually and in finance. Attacks along these lines and those aimed at the wealth of his wife are hardly the stuff of scandal, (see The Indian Citizen, Tax and Smear) more in the realm of the gutter. But there is a possibly concerted effort to create a picture of a man for these reasons out of touch with ordinary people’s lives. It is possible he is out of touch, but that conclusion can not rationally be drawn from the facts of his upbringing and success financially. Otherwise, all of the top 1% of earners in this country, including most MPs, are probably in this category. The desire to play the wealth envy card and constant focus on such characteristics is a dishonest approach to character and ability assessment. Rather perhaps do not many Britons aspire to succeed economically through hard work, and to get the best education for their children? Is not ambition with integrity a laudable value?
However, for Rishi Sunak his Hindu religion is an intrinsic part of his life, according to both himself and those who know him. His commitment in this way is carried with some dignity and it seems without arrogance. Perhaps some question the authenticity of his faith, but it is unclear what evidence there is to justify that questioning. Perhaps this Prime Minister will try to be guided by Hindu values such as family, respect, hard work, compassion and sacrifices to improve longer term. His words often reflect that possibility, but, as he says, he should be judged by his actions. But again, like all religions, the Hindu religion can be corrupted by its followers, as witness at the highest level the racial prejudice and some say persecution of Muslims in India itself. He lacks political experience and may suffer for that. Whether he has the soft skills and communication talent to satisfy competing priorities of Tory factions, and interest groups around the UK, is unknown. But at least he deserves the chance to develop and prove himself. It is to be hoped that hard decision-making will be judged objectively against facts and necessities.
DISTRACTION AND DETRACTION
The PM’s to do list is forbidding, both in volume and magnitude of importance. Most immediate and of greatest concern for the public remains the cost of living, prices, wages and, for some, benefits. But the underlying problems of Putin’s destructive war and wider existential threats, of energy costs and inflation, as well as the quality of education and training and the everlasting crisis which is the NHS, all require major attention, and so he will have to prioritise ruthlessly. Meanwhile, opponents wishing him to fall berate him with unimportant distractions such as the exaggerated concerns around Suella Braverman’s suitability as Home Secretary, used to detract from the PM’s competence. The assault on his judgement over attendance at COP 27 is again a detracting distraction to denigrate his decision-making. His reason for non-attendance was reasonable. While he decided eventually to attend, the description of a U-turn seemed more important to some than the degree to which such attendance really makes a difference. Every change of mind for whatever reason seems to be described as a U-turn to create an accumulation of indecisiveness or weak judgement, no matter how unimportant. It is also to be expected that at least his wife’s wealth and tax status will be a recurrent regurgitated theme to give an impression of wrongdoing, to distract and wrongly discredit and so mislead. These distractions designed to disarm and disable reputation need to be kept in perspective.
Unrelenting focus on the most important issues perhaps should be the PM’s mantra, dismissing appearances and sideshows as unwanted distractions, handing the problems to his seconds in command. He will depend heavily on his advisers on publicity and communication fighting his corner. Over the immediate weeks, Ukraine apart, would not people expect him not to be distracted from the required decisions on the economy? His ability to tackle impossible choices of a catch 22 nature will be tested, and his resilience in the face of flak from many sides, which will be fired at him whatever decisions are made, needs to be cast iron. Opponents will bay for U-turns, using everyone to show indecision and weakness.
The arrival of a Hindu British Indian Prime Minister should be celebrated. Every citizen should want him to succeed in the main endeavours confronting him as then the UK will be nearer turning the corner to greater prosperity. How long this British Indian can last before the grey elitist white men take over again is as unpredictable as the course and consequences of the wanton destruction of Ukraine and the extent of Putin’s war crimes.
