Page 16 - Rishi Sunak

Suella Braverman warns immigration threatens UK's 'national character'

'It's not racist for anyone, ethnic minority or otherwise, to want to control our borders,' said Braverman, whose parents are of Indian origin and emigrated to Britain from Kenya and Mauritius

Rishi Sunak expands role of UK pharmacies to cut GP waiting times

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who worked in his mother's pharmacy as a young boy growing up in Southampton, was back in his hometown on Tuesday to unveil plans for an expanded role for pharmacists to cut down long wait times for patients wanting to see a general practitioner (GP). The 42-year-old British Indian leader had his blood pressure checked at Weston Lane Surgery in the south-east England port city and got a clean chit as he spoke to reporters about the initiative to cut down waiting lists for the state-funded National Health Service (NHS), one of his government's top priorities. Patients with minor ailments like earache and sore throat would now be encouraged to go directly to their pharmacist, freeing up GPs for more serious illnesses. By expanding the role of pharmacies, fewer people will need to see their GP in the first place, said Sunak. Today's plans are expected to free up around 15 million GP appointments over the next two years for patients who need them most

UK PM Rishi Sunak, wife to host Coronation Big Lunch for community heroes

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and wife Akshata Murty will host a Coronation Big Lunch at Downing Street in London on Sunday for community heroes to celebrate the crowning of King Charles III and Queen Camilla as part of the country's long celebratory weekend. Among the invitees is British Sikh entrepreneur Navjot Singh Sawhney, who won the UK PM's Points of Light Award earlier this year for his eco-friendly hand-cranked Washing Machine Project, which is benefitting over 1,000 families without access to an electric machine in underdeveloped countries or refugee camps. The event is one of an estimated 50,000 Big Lunches or street parties being organised up and down the United Kingdom to celebrate the Coronation at Westminster Abbey in London on Saturday. Also joining the Downing Street party will be Ukrainians forced to flee the war-torn country amid its conflict with Russia. Come rain or shine, thousands of friends and neighbours are coming together this weekend to put up the ..

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

Sunak faced devastating losses of over 1,000 Tory seats in local elections

The party had made surprising successes in Hertsmere, in Hertfordshire, the seat of the Deputy Prime Minister, Oliver Dowden, where the Tories lost overall control of the Council

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

My daughter made her husband a PM: Rishi Sunak's mother-in-law Sudha Murty

Akshata Murty married UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in 2009 and the latter made a quick rise to power in the years that followed

Sunak, wife Akshata to lead with UK flag at King Charles III's Coronation

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty will be at the head of a procession of flag-bearers as the UK's flag is carried by a high-ranking Royal Air Force (RAF) cadet at the Coronation ceremony of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey in London on May 6, Buckingham Palace said on Friday. In a series of details released around the ceremonial roles to be carried out at the historic event when the 74-year-old monarch is formally crowned along with wife Camilla, the palace also confirmed that Indian-origin peers will be participating in the ceremony. They will represent the Hindu, Sikh and Muslim faiths as they hand over key elements of the royal regalia to King Charles. In keeping with this theme of diversity and inclusion for the Christian ceremony, one of the first processions into the Abbey will be made up of faith representatives of different religions. The first processions into Westminster Abbey will be made up of faith leaders and faith representatives ...

Tide to sponsor business trip of 16 small players from India, UK in 2023-24

The initiative aims to unlock opportunities for millions of existing and budding entrepreneurs who might want to export to and from India and the UK

UK PM commences evacuation of British nationals from strife-torn Sudan

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said his government has commenced a large-scale evacuation effort to help British nationals leave strife-torn Sudan from Tuesday. UK military flights are due to depart from an airfield outside the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, supported by senior diplomats from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Flights will be open to those with British passports and priority will be given to family groups with children and/or the elderly or individuals with medical conditions. "The government has begun a large-scale evacuation of British passport holders from Sudan on RAF flights. Priority will be given to the most vulnerable, including families with children and the elderly, Sunak said on Twitter. "I pay tribute to the British Armed Forces, diplomats and Border Force staff carrying out this complex operation. The UK will continue to work to end the bloodshed in Sudan and support a democratic government, he said. At this stage, the FCDO has sa

PM Rishi Sunak goes live on LinkedIn to promote UK's growth plans

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday joined a live question and answer session with a range of UK businesses as part of a new Business Connect programme, which he says will promote his economic growth priority and optimise the conditions for businesses in the country to thrive. Over 200 of the UK's highest-profile CEOs and business leaders, representing key growth sectors, including tech, life sciences and advanced manufacturing, gathered in London for the first Business Connect event to hear directly from Sunak. It came as Downing Street released the latest figures to show that 1,800 jobs a month have been created since October 2022 the month Sunak took charge in the wake of a disastrous mini-Budget which resulted in predecessor Liz Truss being deposed as Prime Minister. Since taking office, I've spoken to over 1,000 business people because they are the innovators and change-makers at the heart of our economy, supporting jobs, attracting investment and driving growth, sai

Burberry chief challenges Sunak over 'spectacular own goal' UK tourist tax

Sunak replied that he would listen to Murphy's concerns, while declining to comment on possible tax changes out of deference to Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt

Oliver Dowden named UK's new deputy prime minister, after Raab resigns

Dowden had been serving in Rishi Sunak's government as the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Cabinet Office secretary before the new appointment

Rishi Sunak declares wife's shareholding in childcare firm amid probe

The UK Prime Minister is being investigated by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner, Daniel Greenberg, over whether he properly declared his wife's shareholdings

UK PM Sunak faces parliamentary probe over wife Akshata's business interest

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing a watchdog inquiry under his parliamentary declaration of interest obligations related to a Budget policy that could benefit his wife, Akshata Murty, through her business interest in a childcare firm, it emerged on Monday. The inquiry has been opened by the UK's Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, an independent officer of the House of Commons in charge of looking at evidence if individual British members of Parliament are feared to have broken a rule under the Code of Conduct'. The active inquiries on the watchdog's list include one opened on Sunak, 42, last Thursday under Paragraph 6 of the rules of conduct, as Downing Street said ministerial interests were "transparently declared". Members must always be open and frank in declaring any relevant interest in any proceeding of the House or its Committees, and in any communications with Ministers, Members, public officials or public office holders, states Paragraph 6. According to t

Sunak, Modi to expedite progress on India-UK FTA: Downing Street

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday and agreed to expedite progress to resolve outstanding issues in the India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations. In a readout of the call between the two leaders, Downing Street said that Sunak reiterated his condemnation of the unacceptable violence outside the Indian High Commission in London last month and updated Modi on the steps being taken to ensure the security of Indian diplomatic staff. The leaders agreed to follow up their discussions at the G7 meeting in Japan next month and the G20 Summit being hosted by India later in the year. The leaders reflected on the close friendship between the two countries, and agreed great progress was being made on the 2030 UK-India Roadmap," a Downing Street spokesperson said. "Discussing ongoing negotiations on a UK-India Free Trade Agreement, the leaders reflected on the huge opportunities a deal would offer to Indian and British businesses and ...

PM Modi holds talk with Sunak, calls for action against anti-India elements

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday raised the issue of security of Indian diplomatic establishments in the United Kingdom in a telephonic conversation with his British counterpart Rishi Sunak and called for strong action against anti-India elements, officials said. Modi also sought progress on the return of economic offenders wanted in India, they said. Pro-Khalistan protestors had recently smashed windows at the Indian mission in London and targeted the national flag as well. The two leaders reviewed the progress of a number of bilateral issues, particularly in trade and economic sectors, officials said. During the talks, Sunak reiterated the UK's full support for India's ongoing G20 presidency.

UK PM Rishi Sunak's wife earned Rs 68 cr in dividend income from Infosys

Akshata Murty, the wife of Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, stands to earn Rs 68.17 crore in dividend income from her shareholding in India's second-largest IT firm Infosys. Murty, daughter of Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy, held 3.89 crore shares of Infosys at the end of December, according to company filings with the stock exchanges. Infosys declared a final dividend of Rs 17.50 per share for FY23 (April 2022 to March 2023). If she retains her shareholding till the record date, June 2, she would get Rs 68.17 crore. Together with an interim dividend of Rs 16.50 a share declared in October last year, she would get Rs 132.4 crore. For the previous fiscal, Infosys paid a total of Rs 31 per share dividend, giving her a total of Rs 120.76 crore. Her holding is worth just over Rs 5,400 crore at Thursday's closing price of Rs 1,388.60 per share on the BSE. Infosys is among the best dividend-paying companies in India. Sunak, 42, in October last year became Britain's first prime

Labour attack social media ad targets Rishi Sunak family over tax status

Campaign, seen as a precursor to general election expected next year, has become heated with Labour accusing Sunak of being responsible for tough consequences of cost-of-living crisis

UK economy set for smaller hit in 2023 than previously feared: IMF

British gross domestic product will contract by 0.3% in 2023, the IMF said in its latest set of global forecasts, a smaller shrinkage than the 0.6% contraction the Fund predicted in January