Rishi Sunak

Rishi Sunak
Name	Rishi Sunak
Office	Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Monarch	Elizabeth II , Charles III
Term start	25 October 2022
Predecessor	Liz Truss
Office1	Leader of the Conservative Party
Term start1	24 October 2022
Predecessor1	Liz Truss
Office2	Chancellor of the Exchequer
Primeminister2	Boris Johnson
Term start2	13 February 2020
Term end2	5 July 2022
Predecessor2	Sajid Javid
Successor2	Nadhim Zahawi
Office3	Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Primeminister3	Boris Johnson
Term start3	24 July 2019
Term end3	13 February 2020
Predecessor3	Liz Truss
Successor3	Steve Barclay
Constituency MP4	Richmond (Yorks)
Term start4	7 May 2015
Predecessor4	William Hague
Party	Conservative
Spouse	Akshata Murty, 2009
Alma mater	Lincoln College, Oxford , Stanford Graduate School of Business

Rishi Sunak is a British politician who has served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party since October 2022. He is the first person of British Asian heritage and the first Hindu to hold the office. Previously, he served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2020 to 2022 under Prime Minister Boris Johnson, where he oversaw the government's economic response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.

Early life and education

Rishi Sunak was born in 1980 in Southampton to parents of Indian descent; his father was a NHS GP and his mother ran a pharmacy. He was educated at Winchester College, an independent school, before reading Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Lincoln College, Oxford. He later earned an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business as a Fulbright Scholar.

Business career

Before entering politics, Sunak had a career in investment banking and hedge fund management. He worked for Goldman Sachs in London and later as a partner at the hedge fund firms The Children's Investment Fund Management and Theleme Partners. His business career, along with his marriage to Akshata Murty, the daughter of Narayana Murthy, co-founder of Infosys, contributed to his significant personal wealth.

Political career

Elected as the MP for Richmond (Yorks) in 2015, Sunak quickly rose through the Conservative Party ranks. He supported the Leave campaign in the 2016 EU referendum. He served as a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government before being appointed Chief Secretary to the Treasury by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in July 2019.

Premiership

Sunak became Prime Minister in October 2022 following the resignation of Liz Truss, whose mini-budget had triggered market turmoil. His premiership has focused on economic stability, tackling inflation, and reducing government borrowing. Key events have included the signing of the Windsor Framework with the European Union regarding Northern Ireland, and leading the Conservative Party into the 2024 general election.

Policies and political positions

Sunak's political platform is characterized by fiscal conservatism and a focus on technological innovation. As Chancellor, he launched the furlough scheme and other major support packages during the COVID-19 pandemic. As Prime Minister, his government has pursued policies on net zero, including delaying some petrol car ban deadlines, and implemented strict measures on illegal migration, such as the Rwanda asylum plan. He has also emphasized the importance of mathematics education and a robust stance towards China.

Personal life

Sunak is married to Akshata Murty, an heiress and businesswoman; they have two daughters. The family resides at 10 Downing Street and the Prime Minister's country house, Chequers. A practicing Hindu, he took his oath of office on the Bhagavad Gita in the House of Commons. His personal wealth and his wife's former non-dom tax status have been subjects of media scrutiny. He is a supporter of Southampton F.C. and enjoys cricket.

Category:Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom Category:Chancellors of the Exchequer Category:21st-century British politicians