Rishi Sunak to stand for UK premiership, Pakistani origin MPs back him

London, Oct 23

Conservative UK politician of Indian descent Rishi Sunak has confirmed he is standing for the leadership of the ruling Conservative party and in effect the prime ministership of Britain.

Taking to Twitter, he said: "The United Kingdom is a great country, but we face a profound economic crisis."

He added: "I want to fix our economy, unite our party and deliver for our country."

Prominent Pakistani-origin Conservative MPs are backing Sunak for the prime ministership of the UK. Whereas prominent Indian-origin MPs are supporting Boris Johnson.

Among those who have lined up behind Sunak are Sajid Javid, who has served as home secretary and chancellor of the exchequer in the British government in the past, and Rehman Chishti, who has been a junior minister before.

The lawmakers in the Johnson camp are Priti Patel, who was previously home secretary, Alok Sharma, who has been a cabinet minister in the last two UK governments; and Shailesh Vara, who has had the longest stint as an MP among Conservative lawmakers of Indian descent.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, a cabinet minister in the outgoing Liz Truss government and former prime minister Johnson's enthusiastic supporter, told The BBC that the latter "will clearly stand".

It was not clear, though, if Johnson had obtained the endorsement of 100 MPs, a minimum requirement to qualify for the contest, which the Conservative Home website documented Sunak comfortably had.

--IANS