Rishi Sunak

Rishi Sunak
Rishi Sunak
Born	Rishi Sunak; May 12, 1980 (age 46); Southampton, Hampshire, England
Occupation(s)	Politician, former investment banker
Years active	2001–present
Known for	Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (2022–2024), Chancellor of the Exchequer (2020–2022)

Rishi Sunak (born 12 May 1980) is a British political figure who held the roles of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Conservative Party Leader from 2022 until 2024. After losing to Keir Starmer's Labour Party in the 2024 general election, he assumed the position of Leader of the Opposition from July to November 2024. Prior to this, he occupied two key Cabinet posts under Boris Johnson, most notably serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer between 2020 and 2022. Since 2015, Sunak has represented Richmond and Northallerton, previously known as Richmond (Yorks), as a Member of Parliament (MP).

Sunak was born in Southampton to parents of Indian heritage who migrated from East Africa during the 1960s. His education includes attendance at Winchester College, followed by studies in philosophy, politics, and economics at Lincoln College, Oxford. He also obtained an Master of Business Administration from Stanford University as a Fulbright Scholar. During his time at Oxford, he became involved with the Conservative Party. After completing his education, Sunak worked at Goldman Sachs before becoming a partner at two hedge funds. Elected to Parliament in 2015, he supported Brexit during the 2016 referendum. Under Theresa May, he was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Government in 2018 and later became Chief Secretary to the Treasury under Johnson in 2019.

In 2020, Sunak took on the role of Chancellor of the Exchequer, overseeing the government's fiscal response to the COVID-19 crisis, which included initiatives such as furlough schemes and Eat Out to Help Out amid economic difficulties and a persistent cost-of-living challenge. While initially enjoying strong approval ratings, public support waned by 2022 due to mounting economic pressures. He resigned from his chancellorship amid a government turmoil in July 2022 and was defeated by Liz Truss in the following Conservative leadership contest. After Truss’s short tenure as prime minister, Sunak was elected unopposed as Conservative leader and prime minister in October 2022 at age 42, marking him as the youngest UK prime minister since 1812.

During his premiership, Sunak focused on reducing inflation by half, fostering economic growth, lowering national debt, decreasing NHS waiting times, and curbing illegal migrant crossings in the English Channel through the Rwanda asylum scheme. In foreign affairs, he authorized support and military aid to Ukraine following Russia’s invasion and backed Israel after the Hamas assault while subsequently advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza. Despite these measures, Conservative popularity remained low with disappointing local election outcomes in both 2023 and 2024. He called a general election for July 2024; however, his party faced a decisive defeat by Labour, ending fourteen years of Conservative rule.

Following his departure from office, Sunak briefly served as Leader of the Opposition while retaining Conservative leadership during the internal leadership election that saw Kemi Badenoch chosen as his successor. He intends to continue serving as a backbench MP for five more years and returned to Goldman Sachs in 2025 as a senior advisor with limitations on lobbying activities.

Early life and education (1980–2001)

Rishi Sunak entered the world on 12 May 1980 at Southampton General Hospital in Hampshire. His parents, Hindu Punjabis of East African origin, were born in different parts of East Africa: his father in the Kenya Colony in 1949 and his mother in what was then the Tanganyika Territory (now Tanzania). His paternal grandfather, Ramdas Sunak, relocated from Gujranwala (currently in Pakistan) to Nairobi in 1935, while his maternal grandfather, Raghubir Berry, was raised in Punjab before moving to Tanzania as an engineer. Both parents emigrated to the United Kingdom in 1966, where they eventually met and married in 1977. Professionally, his father practiced as a general practitioner within the NHS, and his mother managed the Sunak Pharmacy in Southampton between 1995 and 2014.

Sunak’s early education included attending Stroud School in Romsey followed by Winchester College as a day student, where he served as head boy. During summer breaks, he gained work experience as a waiter. He pursued higher education at Lincoln College, Oxford, studying philosophy, politics, and economics, and graduated with first-class honours in 2001. While at university, he interned at Conservative Campaign Headquarters and became a member of the Conservative Party. In 2006, he completed an MBA at Stanford University as a Fulbright Scholar.

His paternal grandfather originated from Gujranwala (now within Pakistan), while his maternal grandfather came from Ludhiana (now part of India); both locations were situated in Punjab during British rule. The family’s migration journey—from Punjab to East Africa and subsequently to the UK—illustrates their diasporic heritage rooted in business and professional endeavors. Sunak is the eldest among three siblings: his brother works as a psychologist, and his sister holds the position of chief of strategy and planning at Education Cannot Wait, a United Nations global fund dedicated to education during emergencies.

Business career (2001–2015)

Sunak commenced his professional journey as an analyst at investment bank Goldman Sachs from 2001 until 2004. He then transitioned to hedge fund management with The Children's Investment Fund Management (TCI), where he became a partner by September 2006. In November 2009, he departed to co-found Theleme Partners based in California; this hedge fund launched in October 2010 managing $700 million. Throughout his tenures at TCI and Theleme Partners, Patrick Degorce acted as his supervisor. Between 2013 and 2015, Sunak also held a directorship at Catamaran Ventures, an investment firm owned by his father-in-law N. R. Narayana Murthy, an Indian businessman associated with Infosys.

Backbencher (2015–2018)

In October 2014, Sunak was chosen as the Conservative candidate for Richmond (Yorks), a constituency formerly represented by William Hague. He led the Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Research Unit at the conservative think tank Policy Exchange and co-authored a report focusing on BME communities within the UK. Winning election as MP during the 2015 general election with a majority of 19,550 votes (36.2%), he served on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee from 2015 to 2017.

Sunak supported the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union in the 2016 referendum, criticizing EU immigration policies for being unfair to countries with historical connections to Britain. That same year, he authored a report for the Thatcherite think tank Centre for Policy Studies promoting free ports after Brexit and proposed establishing a retail bond market to aid small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in 2017. Following David Cameron’s resignation, Sunak endorsed Michael Gove during the Conservative leadership contest but later supported Theresa May after her victory.

He was re-elected in the 2017 general election with an increased majority of 23,108 votes (40.5%) and produced a Policy Exchange paper outlining risks related to critical undersea infrastructure vital to UK national security. In the subsequent 2019 general election, Sunak further expanded his majority to 27,210 votes (47.2%). After boundary revisions ahead of the 2024 general election, he secured election for the newly formed Richmond and Northallerton seat with a majority of 23,059 votes (51.4%).

Local government under-secretary (2018–2019)

In the cabinet reshuffle of 2018, Sunak was appointed as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Government within Theresa May's second administration. Throughout the parliamentary votes, he consistently supported May's Brexit withdrawal agreement and stood against holding a second referendum on the matter. Following Parliament’s threefold rejection of May’s deal, she declared her intention to resign in May 2019.

Sunak endorsed Boris Johnson during the 2019 Conservative leadership election, co-writing a piece alongside MPs Robert Jenrick and Oliver Dowden to promote Johnson’s candidacy during the June contest.

Chief secretary to the Treasury (2019–2020)

Upon becoming Prime Minister, Johnson named Sunak as chief secretary to the Treasury, serving under Chancellor Sajid Javid. Shortly thereafter, Sunak was inducted into the Privy Council. During the 2019 general election campaign, he actively represented Conservative policies in public forums.

Chancellor of the Exchequer (2020–2022)

Early in 2020, there were reports about a potential new economic department led by Sunak that might reduce the Treasury’s dominance. However, by February, Sajid Javid continued as Chancellor with Sunak remaining as Chief Secretary to oversee Treasury affairs.

On 13 February 2020, Javid resigned after Johnson insisted he dismiss all Treasury advisers and replace them with personnel appointed by Downing Street. Javid remarked that "no self-respecting minister would accept those terms." Later that day, Sunak was elevated to Chancellor during Johnson’s cabinet reorganization.

COVID-19 pandemic

Following the first confirmed COVID-19 cases in January 2020, Sunak implemented travel advisories and launched contact tracing efforts, which were eventually halted. As the virus spread throughout the UK, initial restrictions were introduced; however, the government initially resisted adopting more stringent measures observed in parts of Europe and Asia.

By 23 March 2020, with COVID-19 officially declared a pandemic and cases rising rapidly, Sunak emerged as a central figure in shaping both the government’s public health response and economic policies. On 20 March 2020, he underscored the significance of collective empathy and personal accountability in confronting the crisis:

Furlough scheme

Sunak unveiled a £330 billion emergency support package for businesses that included the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, marking a pioneering UK government effort to preserve jobs during the pandemic. Launched on 20 March 2020, this programme provided grants covering 80% of employees’ wages and associated employment costs up to £2,500 per individual each month, with anticipated monthly expenses of around £14 billion.

Originally intended to last three months and retroactive to 1 March, the scheme was extended multiple times due to ongoing lockdowns and economic challenges. The first extension prolonged it until June 2020’s end; subsequent extensions carried it through October 2020 to avoid widespread layoffs, company failures, and unemployment surges reminiscent of those seen during the 1930s. In March 2021, furlough support was further prolonged until September 2021.

Eat Out to Help Out

In July 2020, Sunak unveiled a £30 billion initiative comprising a stamp duty holiday, a VAT reduction for the hospitality industry, a job retention bonus, and the Eat Out to Help Out program designed to preserve employment within hospitality. This scheme offered a government-funded 50% discount on food and non-alcoholic beverages (capped at £10 per person) at eligible cafes, pubs, and restaurants from Mondays through Wednesdays between 3 and 31 August. The program subsidised meals amounting to £849 million.

Notably, key scientific advisors Patrick Vallance and Chris Whitty were not briefed before the scheme’s rollout. While some praised it for invigorating the hospitality sector, others questioned its economic benefits. A study conducted in 2020 associated the initiative with a rise in COVID-19 cases, a point acknowledged by Johnson but contested by the Treasury. During the COVID-19 Inquiry, Vallance testified that he was only informed post-announcement, despite Sunak’s written submissions asserting that medical advisers had been consulted without raising objections.

Cost of living crisis and energy crisis

In response to escalating living costs and the energy crisis, Sunak intensified interventions in May 2022 by imposing a £5 billion windfall tax on energy firms to finance a £15 billion relief package. This included a £400 rebate on energy bills for each household, supplementing an existing £150 council tax rebate. Around 8 million households with low incomes received an extra payment of £650. Additional support was provided for pensioners and disabled people alongside the £550 universal payment and the £650 targeted assistance for low-income families.

Budgets

Sunak delivered his inaugural budget titled Delivering on Our Promises to the British People on 11 March 2020. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, a scheduled autumn budget was cancelled as Sunak emphasized prioritizing urgent challenges. Instead, supplementary statements were released during summer and autumn 2020.

The Winter Economy Plan, announced on 24 September 2020, introduced measures aimed at supporting economic recovery and safeguarding sustainable employment and businesses amid ongoing pandemic pressures. Following England’s second lockdown commencing 31 October 2020, these supports were extended repeatedly until 30 September 2021.

The July 2020 summer statement (also known as the coronavirus mini-budget) revealed a £30 billion expenditure package intended to stimulate economic revival. However, concerns about its fiscal efficiency arose from HM Revenue and Customs and the Institute for Fiscal Studies; notably, some major retailers declined participation in financial incentives for rehiring furloughed staff.

In his March 2021 budget, Sunak underscored COVID-19’s profound economic repercussions: loss of 700,000 jobs, a GDP decline of 10%—the steepest in three centuries—and unprecedented borrowing outside wartime conditions. The budget increased corporation tax from 19% to 25%, effective from 2023; froze both the personal allowance and higher rate income tax thresholds for five years; and prolonged furlough schemes until September. This represented the first corporation tax hike since 1974.

Sunak’s October 2021 budget featured substantial investments in science and education sectors, enhanced in-work Universal Credit by raising work allowances by £500 annually while lowering taper rates, and allocated £560 million toward implementing the Levelling Up White Paper. Despite parliamentary criticism over pre-budget leaks, Sunak defended these policies as foundational steps toward establishing a new economic framework.

His final budget statement—the March 2022 spring statement—introduced reductions in fuel duty, eliminated VAT on energy-efficient products, and cut national insurance contributions for small enterprises while preserving a scheduled national insurance increase set for April. He committed to aligning the primary threshold with the personal allowance by July and pledged income tax cuts in 2024. Additional funding was earmarked to support vulnerable groups affected by rising living expenses.

Additional Initiatives

In June 2021, Sunak convened the G7 summit in London, culminating in an agreement on tax reform designed to implement a global minimum tax targeting multinational corporations and digital technology firms. The tax reform initiative gained further momentum in October 2021 when the OECD endorsed the plan by signing a related agreement. Later that same month, Sunak participated in COP26 held in Glasgow. During his address on 3 November, he conveyed optimism about achieving the Paris Agreement goals through collaboration among finance ministers, business leaders, and investors.

Departure from Office

On 5 July 2022, both Sunak and Javid stepped down amid controversy linked to sexual harassment allegations against Chris Pincher. The scandal intensified after it emerged that then-Prime Minister Johnson had promoted Pincher despite being aware of prior accusations. Sunak became the second Conservative MP among 61 to resign during this governmental upheaval. He was replaced as chancellor by Nadhim Zahawi. Their resignations triggered a wave of departures from junior ministers and parliamentary private secretaries, who cited concerns regarding Johnson’s credibility and ethics. Within a day, 36 MPs had resigned, leading Johnson to announce his resignation. In his resignation letter, Sunak remarked:

Attempts at Party Leadership

On 8 July 2022, Sunak declared his intention to run in the leadership contest to succeed Johnson. Launching his campaign via social media, he committed to "restore trust, rebuild the economy and reunite the country," emphasizing principles of "patriotism, fairness, hard work." His platform included opposing gender-neutral language initiatives and proposing policies such as implementing tax reductions only after inflation was under control, temporarily removing the 5% VAT on household energy bills, imposing a £10 penalty for missed GP appointments, limiting refugee intake, and tightening asylum eligibility criteria.

By 20 July, Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss emerged as the final two candidates presented to Conservative members. Throughout each parliamentary voting round, Sunak maintained a lead—securing 137 votes against Truss’s 113 in the final round. He criticized Truss's economic proposals as risky, describing them as "borrowing your way out of inflation," warning they could lead to unprecedented borrowing levels and exacerbate inflationary pressures.

During the membership vote, Truss prevailed with 57.4%, becoming party leader. Sunak offered his support during her transition but remained on the backbenches during her tenure. As anticipated, Truss’s mini-budget in September 2022 introduced significant tax cuts financed by borrowing, which caused financial market instability and was subsequently reversed. Following a governmental crisis, she resigned on 20 October, triggering another leadership election.

By 22 October, Sunak had secured support from over 100 MPs—the threshold required to stand—and officially announced his candidacy on 23 October. After Boris Johnson withdrew and Penny Mordaunt exited the race, Sunak was declared leader on 24 October.

Prime Ministership (2022–2024)

Sunak assumed office as prime minister on 25 October 2022 after being appointed by Charles III, becoming the first British Asian to hold this position. At age 42, he was the youngest individual to serve as prime minister since Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool in 1812. In his inaugural address, Sunak recognized Truss’s efforts to stimulate growth and acknowledged her ambition for change while conceding that "some mistakes were made." He indicated that part of his mandate was to rectify these errors and pledged to prioritize economic stability and restore confidence at the heart of his administration’s agenda.

Cabinet

After assuming office, Sunak assembled his cabinet with prominent appointments such as Jeremy Hunt taking the role of Chancellor of the Exchequer, and initially reappointing Dominic Raab as both deputy prime minister and Justice Secretary until his resignation in April 2023, after which Oliver Dowden succeeded him. James Cleverly was designated as Foreign Secretary, while Suella Braverman assumed the position of Home Secretary. The defence portfolio was held by Ben Wallace as Secretary of State for Defence. Other significant roles included Michael Gove as Levelling Up Secretary, Grant Shapps overseeing the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Penny Mordaunt appointed Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council, Simon Hart serving as Chief Whip, Nadhim Zahawi as chairman of the Conservative Party, Oliver Dowden as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Thérèse Coffey as Environment Secretary, Mel Stride managing Work and Pensions, and Mark Harper as Transport Secretary.

Reshuffles

Sunak’s initial cabinet reshuffle in February 2023 brought significant departmental reorganisation, introducing new bodies such as the Department for Business and Trade, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. This involved dividing and merging the former Department for International Trade and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Key personnel changes featured Greg Hands appointed as chairman (later succeeded by Richard Holden), Lucy Frazer becoming Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, and Rachel Maclean joining the ranks of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

The November 2023 reshuffle saw former prime minister David Cameron return to government after a seven-year hiatus, replacing James Cleverly as foreign secretary. This reshuffle also resulted in the exit of Suella Braverman, Therese Coffey, and Greg Hands from their government positions. Additionally, Laura Trott was appointed as Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

Foreign policy

In February 2023, Sunak successfully negotiated the Windsor Framework, an agreement with the EU concerning trade arrangements in Northern Ireland. On 27 February, he addressed the House of Commons affirming that this deal "safeguards Northern Ireland's status within our Union." Despite opposition from 22 Conservative MPs and six from the DUP, the legislation was passed on 22 March with a vote tally of 515 to 29.

Immigration

Although Boris Johnson’s Conservative government had pledged in 2019 to reduce net migration below 250,000 annually, Sunak shifted focus in 2023 towards curbing illegal immigration rather than limiting legal arrivals. In that year alone, nearly 30,000 undocumented individuals crossed the Channel via small boats. Net migration reached an unprecedented high of 764,000 in 2022, comprising 1.26 million legal immigrants against 493,000 emigrants. Of the 1,218,000 lawful migrants arriving in 2023, only about 10% were nationals from EU countries.

Sunak maintained support for the contentious Rwanda asylum plan, which involves relocating asylum seekers and unauthorized migrants to Rwanda for processing. Following a June 2023 ruling by the UK Court of Appeal that blocked the plan due to concerns over international law violations and refoulement risks, Sunak appealed to the Supreme Court. On 15 November 2023, the Supreme Court upheld that decision, deeming the scheme unlawful.

In reaction to this setback, Sunak sent Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to negotiate a treaty with Rwanda aimed at preventing refoulement; this agreement requires ratification by both British and Rwandan legislative bodies. The government also introduced emergency legislation titled the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, granting ministers powers to override sections of the Human Rights Act 1998 along with certain international legal obligations to officially designate Rwanda as safe under UK law. The bill drew criticism from right-wing factions within the party for being insufficiently stringent, leading to immigration minister Robert Jenrick’s resignation.

On 12 December 2023, Sunak secured a parliamentary majority of 44 votes in favor of the Safety of Rwanda Bill despite opposition from all other parties and abstentions by members associated with the European Research Group.

Russia and Ukraine

In the aftermath of the missile incident in Poland on 15 November 2022, Sunak held discussions with US President Joe Biden and delivered a formal address. Subsequently, he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, committing £50 million in assistance. Sunak expressed pride in the UK’s steadfast support for Ukraine from the onset and reaffirmed ongoing backing for Ukraine’s efforts to bring the conflict to an end.

On 12 January 2024, Sunak traveled to Ukraine to formalize a U.K.-Ukraine Security Cooperation Agreement, pledging £2.5 billion worth of military support. This package included long-range missile systems, artillery shells, air defense capabilities, maritime security measures, and £200 million allocated for military drones, positioning the UK as Ukraine’s leading drone supplier.

Israel and Palestine

Following Hamas’s unexpected assault on Israel in October 2023 and the subsequent Gaza hostilities, Sunak declared the UK’s unequivocal backing of Israel, emphasizing Israel’s "absolute right to defend itself." While he endorsed temporary humanitarian pauses to facilitate aid delivery, Sunak initially opposed a comprehensive ceasefire, citing concerns that it could advantage Hamas.

During the conflict, weapons provided by the UK were utilized by Israeli forces. Despite this, Sunak later condemned the significant civilian toll in Gaza and advocated for a "sustainable ceasefire" that would secure hostage releases, halt hostilities, and ensure humanitarian access. His administration endorsed a two-state solution as a viable framework for achieving peace.

When International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Ahmad Khan pursued war crimes charges against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Sunak criticized the initiative as "unhelpful," accusing Khan of drawing a false equivalence between Israel and Hamas.

Outcomes of Local Elections

Sunak confronted the task of restoring the Conservative Party’s image following the controversies surrounding the previous year and the Truss administration. Although polling figures showed modest improvement, they remained below the levels seen before Truss’s tenure. In the local elections held on 4 May 2023, the Conservatives experienced significant setbacks. On 20 July 2023, they lost two by-election seats—one to Labour and another to the Liberal Democrats. Later policy decisions, including the cancellation of the HS2 northern segment in October, failed to boost their popularity. Further losses occurred in by-elections on 15 February 2024.

By March 2024, rumors emerged about a possible leadership contest against Sunak ahead of the anticipated general election that year if the local elections on 2 May produced disappointing results. Sunak affirmed his intention to resist any such challenge. As anticipated, the 2 May local elections resulted in the Conservatives’ poorest showing since 1996. Additionally, they lost a seat to Labour in the Blackpool South by-election and narrowly missed winning the West Midlands mayoral race. Although Sunak’s time as Prime Minister was more stable than his immediate predecessors’, it did not indicate a substantial revival for his party.

2024 General Election and Resignation

On 22 May 2024, Sunak revealed that he had requested the King to call a general election for 4 July 2024, catching many Conservative MPs off guard. Despite having the option to delay until December, he justified advancing the election date by pointing to improving economic indicators and declining inflation rates, aiming to reinforce the Conservative commitment to "sticking to the plan."

Sunak’s campaign sought to rehabilitate the Conservative Party’s standing after waning approval linked to both the Truss government and controversies during Johnson’s leadership. Key campaign themes included economic stability, the Rwanda asylum policy, enhancing the State Pension, and introducing National Service. The Conservative manifesto titled Clear Plan. Bold Action. Secure Future., unveiled on 11 June, covered topics such as economic policy, taxation, welfare reforms, childcare support, education, healthcare improvements, environmental initiatives, energy strategy, transportation infrastructure, and crime reduction. Sunak promised that if defeated, he would serve as a backbench MP for five years.

On 6 June, Sunak was criticized for departing early from D-Day commemorations to participate in an ITV interview—a move that drew rebuke from veterans and media outlets alike; he issued several apologies over the subsequent week.

Labour secured a decisive victory, bringing an end to 14 years of Conservative rule. This election saw an unprecedented number of Conservative MPs either retiring or losing their seats—including three Cabinet ministers stepping down and twelve Cabinet members defeated—the largest such loss in history. On 5 July, Sunak conceded defeat and declared his intention to resign as party leader once a new leader was selected. In his resignation address, he apologized to Conservative supporters and candidates for the electoral loss and conveyed his respect and support for incoming Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Leader of the Opposition (July–November 2024)

Following Starmer's succession of Sunak as prime minister, Sunak assumed the role of Leader of the Opposition and established his shadow cabinet on 8 July.

Ahead of the 2024 general election, most shadow cabinet members retained their existing roles, including former chancellor Jeremy Hunt continuing as shadow chancellor and ex-home secretary James Cleverly remaining as shadow home secretary. With former foreign secretary David Cameron stepping away from frontline politics, his deputy Andrew Mitchell was promoted to shadow foreign secretary. Richard Holden resigned as party chairman, with interim replacement Richard Fuller appointed outside the shadow cabinet.

Sunak filled positions for eleven cabinet ministers who lost their parliamentary seats, appointing figures such as Edward Argar as shadow justice secretary succeeding Alex Chalk, and Helen Whately as shadow transport secretary following Mark Harper’s electoral defeat. Key appointments included Kemi Badenoch taking on the role of shadow housing secretary, alongside former deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden becoming deputy leader of the opposition.

Sunak maintained leadership until Kemi Badenoch won the 2024 Conservative Party leadership election, after which he returned to a backbench position. During the 2024 State Opening of Parliament, he affirmed that the party would hold the government to account without opposing merely for opposition’s sake. Regarding planning law reforms, he highlighted the importance of local engagement to sustain public approval for housing projects. While acknowledging Starmer’s cancellation of the Rwanda asylum scheme, Sunak emphasized the necessity for alternative deterrent measures to address illegal Channel crossings.

In his address, Sunak also reflected on his political journey:

Other activities

In January 2025, Sunak accepted a visiting fellowship at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, became a distinguished fellow at Oxford University’s Blavatnik School of Government, and signed an exclusive speaking agreement with the Washington Speakers Bureau. By March 2025, he and his wife Akshata Murty launched The Richmond Project, a charitable initiative aimed at enhancing numeracy skills among both children and adults.

In July 2025, Sunak took on a senior advisory role at Goldman Sachs. Subsequently, the ACOBA imposed a one-year restriction preventing him from lobbying government entities, influencing policy decisions, or advising investment funds and foreign governments.

Political positions

Sunak is regarded as a moderate figure within the Conservative Party who employs a technocratic leadership approach. He is seen as a pragmatic centrist who opposed Trussonomics and holds more economically cautious views compared to Liz Truss.

By April 2023, despite his centrist image, his administration’s stances on transgender rights and immigration were characterized as socially conservative. The Guardian described him as "perhaps the most socially conservative PM of his generation." The Financial Times observed that his cosmopolitan origins contrast with his socially conservative policies and practical governance style. The New Statesman portrayed him as balancing between liberal-conservative and national-conservative tendencies. In July 2023, The Economist referred to him as "the most right-wing Conservative prime minister since Margaret Thatcher."

Public image

Sunak emerged from relative anonymity into the public eye upon becoming chancellor. Some analysts interpreted his appointment as a signal that Treasury's autonomy from Downing Street might be diminishing, expressing concerns that effective leadership depends on senior officials—particularly the Chancellor—being able to oppose flawed proposals.

Throughout the initial phase of the COVID-19 crisis, Sunak enjoyed exceptional popularity by UK political standards, reaching approval levels not seen since Tony Blair's tenure. Surveys conducted in 2020 consistently revealed strong support among both Conservative voters and the general population. In an Ipsos MORI poll from September 2020, he achieved the highest satisfaction rating for a British chancellor since Denis Healey in 1978, positioning him as a prominent candidate for Conservative leadership. Sunak also gained a notable media-driven following, affectionately dubbed "Dishi Rishi" due to widespread social media and magazine coverage.

Public sentiment remained largely favourable through 2021, although his popularity waned gradually. By early 2022, amid escalating concerns over the cost of living, his performance as chancellor was widely regarded as insufficient, with approval figures further declining after scrutiny of his family’s financial affairs. His ratings experienced a modest rebound prior to his resignation in July 2022. Upon assuming the prime ministership in October 2022, Sunak’s personal approval ratings improved but had returned to previous levels by July 2023. The New Statesman identified him as the second most influential right-wing figure of 2023, trailing only Nigel Farage. By the time he stepped down as prime minister in July 2024, Sunak had recorded his lowest approval ratings to date.

Following the Conservative Party’s defeat in the 2024 general election, Sunak was commended for delivering a dignified concession speech, with some commentators suggesting he should continue as party leader.

Personal life

In August 2009, Sunak married Akshata Murty, daughter of N. R. Narayana Murthy, founder of the technology firm Infosys, in which Murty holds shares. The couple met while attending Stanford University and have two daughters born in 2011 and 2013. In November 2020, reports emerged that Sunak had not declared substantial family financial interests—most notably a £1.7 billion stake in Infosys—on the ministerial register; however, an independent advisor later cleared him of any wrongdoing.

In early 2022, it became public knowledge that Murty held non-domiciled status in the UK, enabling her to avoid taxation on overseas income. This status incurred approximately £30,000 in fees but potentially saved around £20 million in taxes. Murty subsequently announced her intention to pay UK tax on worldwide earnings. An investigation was launched into how this information was leaked. Around the same period, it was revealed that Sunak possessed a US green card until 2021, which required annual US tax declarations; he was also exonerated from breaching ministerial regulations regarding this matter.

The couple owns several properties: one in North Yorkshire; a mews house located in London’s Earl's Court; a flat in South Kensington; and a penthouse residence in Santa Monica, California. In April 2022, they vacated the Downing Street flat for personal reasons but returned there in October 2022 when Sunak became prime minister.

In August 2023, Sunak and his family took their first holiday in nearly four years to Santa Monica, attending events including a Taylor Swift concert.

During the Partygate controversy in April 2022, Sunak received a fixed penalty notice for attending Boris Johnson’s birthday gathering in June 2020. He apologized and accepted responsibility by paying the fine. In January 2023, Sunak was fined for failing to wear a seatbelt while in a moving vehicle and expressed regret over this "brief lapse in judgment."

Sunak abstains from alcohol and has spoken about previously consuming excessive amounts of Coca-Cola, particularly preferring Mexican Coke. He formerly served as a governor at the East London Science School. His hobbies include cricket and horse racing; he owns a Labrador named Nova. While chancellor, he maintained a daily exercise routine using a Peloton bike.

A lifelong friend of journalist James Forsyth—who later became his political secretary—Sunak served as best man at Forsyth’s wedding and they are godparents to each other’s children.

Sunak is an avid supporter of Southampton F.C. and has expressed an interest in managing the club if he were not engaged in politics.

Identifying as British Indian and Hindu, Sunak took his parliamentary oath on the Bhagavad Gita. At King Charles III’s coronation, he read from the New Testament's Epistle to the Colossians. Following George Floyd’s murder, Sunak acknowledged having personally experienced racism.

Reflecting on his childhood during the 2024 general election campaign, Sunak noted that his parents emphasized education highly and that he did not have access to Sky TV growing up.

Awards and distinctions

- Order of Liberty

External links

Final address as Prime Minister following the July 4, 2024 election on The Guardian