Rishi Sunak bows out as UK Opposition Leader on Diwali

October 30, 2024 22:11

Rishi Sunak/File image

Rishi Sunak bowed out as UK Opposition Leader in Parliament on Wednesday with a reference to his career's Diwali milestones, being appointed the country's first Prime Minister of Indian heritage two years ago during the Festival of Lights.

The 44-year-old, who has been serving as interim leader of the Conservatives until a new Tory leader is elected after the party's general election defeat in July, used his final Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons for a light-hearted exchange with Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

"I became leader of my party during Diwali and I now stand down during that same festival," said Sunak.

"I'm proud to have been the first British Asian Prime Minister, and I am even prouder that it was not that big a deal; and that speaks volumes about the values of the British people, of our country and of this Parliament. So will the Prime Minister join me in applauding the kindness, decency and tolerance that has always been the British way," he said.

It was during Diwali in October 2022 that Sunak, joined by wife Akshata and daughters Krishna and Anoushka, entered 10 Downing Street and went on to adorn its steps with diyas and rangoli for two consecutive years. -- PTI

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

'Beat me up after...': Atul Subhash's wife in complaint

Nikita said she got married to Subhash on April 26, 2019. She alleged that after marriage her husband and in-laws were dissatisfied with what her parents gave them during the wedding and demanded Rs 10 lakh more.

MIT expels Indian-origin student for essay on Palestine

An Indian-origin PhD student at MIT, Prahlad Iyengar, has been suspended until January 2026 for his pro-Palestinian activism. The suspension effectively ends his NSF fellowship and disrupts his academic career. Iyengar is appealing the...

Maha polls: '1,440 VVPATs matched with EVM counts'

'These machines are standalone devices with no external connectivity, making hacking impossible. The chip in EVMs is one-time programmable, ensuring no changes can be made. Strict security and administrative protocols further prevent any...

What prompted Oppn to move no-trust against Dhankhar

Kharge alleged that Dhankhar is working as a government spokesperson and acting like a school headmaster, often sermonising experienced opposition leaders and preventing them from speaking in the House.

Is Bumrah In Doubt For 3rd Test?

'The only concern they might have is around Jasprit Bumrah's fitness and what that does to the bowling attack... that's where the main challenge lies for India.'