Three south Asians enter Tory leadership race

For the first time in British history, three south Asians are standing for elections to be voted as Britain’s next Prime Minister.

Rishi Sunak, Suella Braverman and Said Javid all have south Asian ancestry. Current Prime Minister Boris Johnson has had to resign following the highest number of resignations in a government in British history, after 59 MPs left their jobs within the space of 48 hours over a lack of confidence in Mr Johnson. The resignations came after months of growing anger and frustration following a string of controversies from the illegal parties held in Downing Street during the peak of lockdown to the revelation that Mr Johnson kept a minister in position despite knowing he was a groper. Mr Johnson has said he will serve until a new leader is elected, which is expected to be in September. But as the Conservative party have a majority and still two years until the next general election, this isn’t a public vote and only the members of the Conservative party will be allowed to vote.

Rishi Sunak

Currently polls suggest that the former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak is the most popular amongst just the south Asian candidates and all of the candidates in general. However publicly he is not so favourable. A third generation Gujarati Indian immigrant, he became MP for the North Yorkshire constituency of Richmond in 2015 and quickly moved up the ranks, becoming Chancellor in just five years. He was initially popular for his quiet demeanour and gained a fan following amongst those who thought he was handsome, giving him the nickname of Dishi Rishi. But in his attempt to balance the books and navigate a way out of the financial mess the pandemic brought about, he raised taxes, making him deeply unpopular. At the same time, news of his wife, Akshata Murthy’s non-domiciled tax status were brought to light and scrutinised after it was found that she is the daughter of the wealthy Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy .

The Conservative party has, in recent years become increasingly popular with British south Asians and in particular, with well-to-do British Indians. Historically, the community was deeply loyal to the Labour party but the tide began to change during the Brexit election. Many voters felt only Boris could take the government out of Brexit “deadlock” and onto focus on other issues and others, especially second and third generation immigrants who had seen their families work hard over the generations to do well and become integrated in British society, felt they did not see the same in recent waves of migrants and so wanted to see immigration curbed. Some, felt that with so many south Asians in the Conservative party and with the anti-semitism allegations the Labour party was embroiled in, that Labour had become the more worrisome group to back and finally, many believe the UK could do better by cutting ties with the EU and increasing trade links with fast developing countries like India.

Said Javid

Sajid Javid, the former health secretary has tossed his hat in the ring for the role of PM before, back in 2019, before dropping out and backing Boris Johnson instead. A second generation Pakistani immigrant and Muslim, he was the first to leave, making his resignation speech in front of Mr Johnson in the House of Commons last Wednesday morning. Following a career in finance, he became MP for Bromsgrove in 2010 and was the first Chancellor appointed when Boris Johnson came to power. However just six months later, he resigned when asked by Mr Johnson to fire his team of aides, saying instead: ‘"I believe it is important as leaders to have trusted teams that reflect the character and integrity that you would wish to be associated with."

The final south Asian candidate and the least publicly known is ex Attorney General Suella Braverman. She started as MP for Fareham in Hampshire in 2015 before becoming a minster at the Department for Leaving the EU under Theresa May. She resigned however over her disapproval of Mrs May's EU withdrawal deal and was made Attorney General after Mr Johnson asked Geoffrey Cox to resign following revelations that he worked as a lawyer for the British Virgin Islands whilst Attorney General and often, appearing for court cases virtually from within the Houses of Parliament. Braverman is a second generation immigrant of Indian origin parents from Kenya and Mauritius.

Suella Braverman

With three south Asian candidates, Nadhim Zahawi, a British Iraqi and Kemi Badenoch, a British Nigerian, this is by far the most diverse line up of candidates ever seen and so although the focus is on cutting taxes, personal stories will likely play a role. The election process begins with each candidate put forward needing eight MP backers. In the first round of voting, candidates need to receive a minimum of 18 votes. Those with less are eliminated. In the second round the candidates with less than 36 votes each are eliminated until only two candidates remain and the person with the most votes wins.