Rishi Sunak was appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on 25th October 2022.
Notably, Sunak is the first British Asian, and first person from a Hindu background to occupy the position. Sunak is also Britain's youngest PM since 1812. With his predecessor Liz Truss having lasted 50 days, making her the shortest serving premier in British political history, Sunak is the third PM to occupy Number 10 Downing Street in two months.
Sunak will also be the UK's wealthiest PM to date, with The Guardian estimating that his fortune, combined with that of his wife, Akshata Murty, amounts to £730 million. Sunak had previously come under scrutiny for the source of his wealth, with his wife facing criticism for previously having 'non-dom' tax status.
Sunak was known to oppose certain 'leveling-up' policy measures supported by his predecessors, which sought to redress infrastructural disparities between wealthier and poorer areas. Phil Burton-Cartledge has argued in Jacobin that Sunak: 'sought and managed to frustrate these ambitions to address the UK’s regional inequality.'
Sunak acknowledged mistakes made by his predecessors, and pledged to incorporate 'integrity, professionalism, and accountability at every level' of his administration. He said in his first address as PM: '(...) our country is facing a profound economic crisis. The aftermath of COVID still lingers. Putin's war in Ukraine has destabilized energy markets and supply chains the world over (...).'
Sunak recently attended COP27, at which he pledged to do more to reduce pollution levels and combat deforestation. However, his administration is expected by most commentators to generally implement right-wing policies and adhere to a conservative domestic agenda. His recent decision to reinstate a ban on fracking was viewed with some optimism by environmentalists and climate activists, representing a departure from some of Liz Truss's more controversial environmental policies.