UK's next prime minister could be of Indian heritage
July 20, 2022, 7:58 am

UK's next prime minister could be of Indian heritage

Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak. Labour’s Rachel Reeves says there is a ‘growing feeling that if one has access to a telephone number of someone like the prime minister or the chancellor of the exchequer, then they are able to gain special treatment’.

After British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's resignation as leader of the ruling Conservative Party, Rishi Sunak, one of the lawmakers competing for the party leadership and prime minister's seat, won another round of voting Tuesday (July 19), bringing him one step closer to possibly becoming the first person of Indian origin to occupy the UK’s top post, the Anadolu Agency reported.

Since Johnson stepped down on July 7 as a result of a series of events, including resignations in his Cabinet and party, the 358 deputies of the Conservative faction in the House of Commons began the process of electing its new leader and prime minister.

To replace Johnson, Sunak, the former chancellor of the Exchequer, International Trade Minister Penny Mordaunt, head of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee Tom Tugendhat, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, Attorney General Suella Braverman, former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, former Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch, and current Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi competed in the first round held on July 13.

The election rounds will continue by eliminating the deputies with the fewest votes until the last two candidates remain and Conservative members of parliament will decide between the final two candidates in a postal ballot. The results are expected on Sept. 5.

Rishi Sunak went to Winchester College and studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford University. He was also a Fulbright Scholar at Stanford University (USA) where he studied for his MBA - Photo. Official Facebook account

Sunak was the candidate with the most votes in round one, at 88, while Mordaunt received 67, Truss 50, Badenoch 40, Tugendhat 37 and Braverman 32.

Sunak garnered 101 votes in the second round, followed by Mordaunt with 83, Truss with 64, Badenoch with 49, and Tugendhat with 32.

Rishi Sunak wins UK's third round leadership vote

In the third round, Sunak earned 115 votes, followed by Mordaunt with 82, Truss 71, Badenoch 58, and Tugendhat 31. Due to receiving the fewest votes in this round, Tugendhat was knocked out of the leadership race.

In the fourth round, Sunak received 118 votes, Mordaunt 92, Truss 86 and Badenoch 59. Due to receiving the fewest votes, Badenoch was eliminated.

Three candidates remain in the race – Sunak, Mordaunt and Truss.

On Wednesday (July 20), one more round of voting will be held to eliminate one candidate, leaving just two contenders for the top position in the party. After that, they will campaign across the country before party members vote on the winner.

UK's Sky News cancels third Conservative leadership debate

Sunak's ancestors were Indian immigrants who traveled from India to England and from England to Africa. His father, Yashvir Sunak, was born in Kenya, while his mother, Usha Sunak, was born in Tanzania.

Pharmacist Usha and general practitioner Yashvir, who emigrated to England from Africa in the 1960s, met in this country and got married. Rishi Sunak, the eldest of the Sunak family's three children, was born on May 12, 1980 in Southampton, England.

On Sept. 5, after the election, the new leader of the post-Johnson party and the new occupant of the Prime Minister's residence -- No. 10, Downing Street -- will be revealed.

levantnews-aa

Russia, Turkey and Iran to continue cooperation to ‘eliminate terrorists’ in Syria Egypt launches bike sharing project ahead of hosting COP27

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.