Page 4 - British Prime Minister

UK PM Rishi Sunak defends shift in climate policy as realistic approach

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday defended his shift in climate action policy as a pragmatic and realistic approach towards delivering the country's Net Zero target, amid criticism over proposed delays in certain measures. A day after his speech set out a pushback of petrol and diesel car ban and other cost-intensive measures to reduce the country's carbon emissions, Sunak fought back suggestions that he was filtering down the UK's climate commitments. Amid criticism from within his own party and also from Opposition and industry, he stressed that his updated approach was designed to protect "hard-pressed British families" from "unacceptable costs". We're very confident being in government, with all the information at our disposal that we are on track to hit all our targets, Sunak told the BBC in an interview. We're absolutely not slowing down efforts to combat climate change. I'm very proud of our country's leadership. We've decarbonised faster than any other major

UK, India two nations with one ambition, rooted in shared values: PM Sunak

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held a bilateral meeting with his UK counterpart Sunak on the sidelines of the G20 Summit being held in the national capital under India's presidency

British PM Rishi Sunak says 'won't rush' into UK-India trade deal

The remarks assume significance as the 12th round of talks concluded last month between the officials of the two countries. The talks for the agreement were launched in January 2022

It's special as son-in-law of India: Rishi Sunak on visit to Delhi for G20

Rishi Sunak said on Friday that his visit to New Delhi for the G20 Leaders' Summit is "obviously special" as he joked about being referred to as the "son-in-law of India" as the first British Prime Minister of Indian heritage and married to an Indian in Akshata Murty. Speaking to reporters in a huddle on his flight to New Delhi, the 43-year-old British Indian leader said he was excited to be back in India, "a country that is very near and dear to me". He is joined on the visit by his wife, the daughter of Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy, and is scheduled for bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the summit. I'm heading to the G20 Summit with a clear focus. Stabilising the global economy. Building international relationships. Supporting the most vulnerable, tweeted Sunak as he embarked on the three-day tour. It's obviously special. I saw somewhere that I was referred to as India's son-in-law, which I hope was meant affectionately," he told reporters

India 'right country' at 'right time' to hold G20 presidency: UK PM Sunak

We will also work closely with India through their Presidency of the G20 to address the biggest challenges the world is facing, said the British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

Rishi Sunak lands in the eye of the storm due to his pen; here's why

Rishi Sunak's office maintains that the PM has never used the pen's erasing feature and will never do so

British PM Sunak's ex-deputy Raab calls for UK to up its game on India ties

One of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's close allies and former deputy prime minister, Dominic Raab, on Saturday called on the British Indian leader to up the government's game to reap the full dividends of a closer partnership with India. Dominic Raab, who led Sunak's leadership campaign and served as his Foreign Secretary before being forced to resign amid bullying allegations, wrote in The Daily Telegraph' that more can be achieved within the bilateral relationship with the UK's first Prime Minister of Indian heritage now in charge at Downing Street. He pointed to India's particular comparative advantage in tech against the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's high-profile visit to the US this week during which mega deals were struck. With the UK's historic ties to India, and our first UK Prime Minister of Indian heritage, are we doing enough to maximise the rewards from this critical relationship, questions Raab. With Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister, Britain remains ...

MPs to vote on report saying Boris Johnson misled British Parliament

The report recommended that the former Prime Minister should have been suspended from the Commons for 90 days if he had remained an MP

British PM Rishi Sunak confirms plans to house illegal migrants on ships

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday claimed that his plan to "stop the boats" of illegal migrants coming to UK shores is working as he announced plans to house them on ships to reduce pressure on taxpayer-funded hotels. Addressing a press conference at the border town of Dover in Kent, Sunak said the first such ship will be ready later this month and two others to accommodate a further 1,000 migrants soon after. He pointed out that important legislation, referred to as the Illegal Migration Bill or Stop the Boats Bill, has cleared the House of Commons and will give his government the right to detain and deport migrants who enter the country illegally. "I promised we would get illegal migrants out of hotels and into alternative sites, including military facilities," said Sunak. "To reduce pressures on local communities, we'll also house people on ships. The first will arrive in Portland in the next fortnight. And we've secured another two today that will accommodate anothe

British govt appoints new acting chair for BBC to 'provide stability'

The British government appointed a new acting chair for the BBC on Friday, five weeks after the resignation of Richard Sharp, who was found to have failed to disclose a potential conflict of interest over his role in arranging a loan more than two years ago for then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer appointed Elan Closs Stephens to serve as acting chair for 12 months starting June 27 or until a new permanent chairperson is appointed, whichever is sooner. Stephens has been on the governing body of the publicly funded national broadcaster since 2010. Frazer said Stephens has the unanimous support of the board and will provide stability for the BBC. Stephens said the board, under her leadership, will ensure the BBC is a vital partner for the U.K. creative industries, maintain trust, and drive change to make the BBC fit for a fast-changing media landscape,. Her time at the helm may well be a sensitive time for the BBC, as the U.K.'s next general election has

PM Modi meets British PM Sunak, Indonesian President Widodo in Japan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met his British counterpart Rishi Sunak, Indonesian President Joko Widodo and UN chief Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of the G7 summit here in this Japanese city. Modi arrived in Hiroshima on Friday to attend three sessions at the G7 summit. During his meeting with Sunak, the two leaders shared a warm hug. British Prime Minister Sunak also shared the picture with Modi on his Twitter handle, with the two leaders sharing a warm hug. "Met President @jokowi and Mrs Widodo. India attaches great priority to strong ties with Indonesia," Prime Minister Modi tweeted after his meeting with the Indonesian leader. "Wonderful conversation with @UN Secretary-General @antonioguterres in Hiroshima," Modi tweeted after the meeting. Earlier, Modi also held talks with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh and met German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The group of seven, comprising

UK PM Rishi Sunak reads from biblical book at multi-faith Coronation

Rishi Sunak on Saturday made history as the first Indian-origin British Prime Minister to perform a reading at the Coronation ceremony of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey in London. The 42-year-old British Hindu leader read from the Epistle to the Colossians from the New Testament reflecting the theme of service to others, in keeping with the recent tradition of UK Prime Ministers giving readings at State occasions. He and his wife Akshata Murty, the daughter of Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy, led the procession of flag-bearers as the UK's Union Jack flag was carried into the Abbey by a high-ranking Royal Air Force (RAF) cadet. In the Abbey where monarchs have been crowned for almost a thousand years, representatives of every faith will play a central role for the first time, said Sunak, in a statement on the eve of the historic event. The Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla will be a moment of extraordinary national pride. Together with frie

UK PM Rishi Sunak admits disappointing' first electoral test outcome

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Friday admitted it was a disappointing run for the governing Conservative Party, with the Opposition Labour and Liberal Democrat parties making significant gains in the local elections. Voters went to the polls on Thursday to elect local representatives in 230 of England's 317 councils in what marked Sunak's first electoral test at the ballot box since he took charge at 10 Downing Street in October 2022. Even as the results continue to be counted, Labour gained control of some of its top target councils including Medway in south-east England which has been under Tory control for 20 years. Pollsters had forecast that a loss of fewer than 1,000 seats for the governing Tories would be seen as a good result for Sunak, given that the government usually faces a drubbing in local polls close to a general election which is expected towards the second half of next year. However, that threshold seems set to be crossed and will add immense pressure on th

Armed forces veterans, get prime spots at King Charles Coronation

Around 4,000 UK Armed Forces veterans and healthcare workers will be offered a prime viewing spot opposite Buckingham Palace in London for the Coronation of King Charles III, the British government announced on Sunday. Around 3,800 seats will be created in a specially built grandstand in front of the Palace to host military veterans, workers from the state-funded National Health Service (NHS) and representatives of charitable organisations with links to Britain's royal family. Additionally, 354 uniformed cadet forces will be offered the opportunity to watch the royal procession at Admiralty Arch in London on May 6. "As a mark of the nation's profound gratitude, it is right that in celebrating the Coronation we include and champion those who have dedicated their lives to public service," said UK Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer. "The Coronation weekend marks the beginning of a new chapter in our national history and I'm delighted the procession will be lined by people and groups who ...

British PM Sunak to meet US President Biden in Northern Ireland next week

British PM is set to meet US President in Belfast, Northern Ireland next week when the US president flies in to take part in events to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday peace accord

British PM Rishi Sunak, EU strike deal over trade in Northern Ireland

A government source said Sunak had agreed the terms with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as they met in London

UK announces new tranche of sanctions against Russia over Ukraine war

United Kingdom Foreign Secretary James Cleverly on Wednesday announced a new round of sanctions against Russian military and Kremlin elites. The announcement of Cleverly came as Zelenskyy arrived in the UK to hold a meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, King Charles and address Britain's Parliament."In total the UK's sanction package hits 6 entities providing military equipment such as drones for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as well as 8 individuals and 1 entity connected to nefarious financial networks that help maintain wealth and power amongst Kremlin elites," UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office announced in a statement.UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said that Ukraine has demonstrated that it will not break under his "tyrannical invasion." He said new sanctions accelerate the economic pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to the statement released by UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office."These new sanctions ...

New poll claims Rishi Sunak, 15 ministers may lose seat in general election

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and 15 of his Cabinet ministers are at risk of losing their seats in a general election wipeout in 2024, according to a media report citing a new polling data. Senior Tory figures including Prime Minister Sunak, Deputy prime minister Dominic Raab and health secretary Steve Barclay are all at risk of defeat at the election expected in 2024, according to the polling data shared with The Independent newspapers. Foreign secretary James Cleverly, defence secretary Ben Wallace, business secretary Grant Shapps, Commons leader Penny Mordaunt and environment secretary Therese Coffey could also lose their seats, according to the Focaldata polling for Best for Britain. Only five Cabinet ministers Jeremy Hunt, Indian-origin Suella Braverman, Michael Gove, Nadhim Zawawi and Kemi Badenoch would cling on after the 2024 election, according to the poll. A new analysis shared with The Independent on 10 crucial bellwether seats those who have voted consistently

Suella Braverman may cost UK PM losing next election, says former aide

Asserting that Suella Braverman should be sacked, an outgoing UK government aide has warned that keeping on the Home Secretary will result in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak losing the next election

UK, Italy, Japan team up to build sixth-generation fighter by 2035

Reports indicate the UK held talks with India on joining the coalition