THE vast majority of Britons say they are comfortable with having a south Asian as their prime minister.
A survey by the think-tank, British Future, found that a third of the British public would see an Asian prime minister as a good thing for our country.
At least eight in 10 Britons say they are comfortable with having a south Asian as their prime minister.
“Nobody can guess whether we will have an Asian or black prime minister before 2032,” its director, Sunder Katwala writes in this week’s Eastern Eye.
“But 84 per cent of the public would have no problem with that, with only a surly one in 10 opposed. Ethnic diversity has become so much a new normal at the top, across political parties, that this can only now be a matter of time.”
The prime minister, Boris Johnson, already boasts about having the most racially diverse cabinet in the history of British politics. Two of them, Rishi Sunak and Priti Patel, hold two of the top four government posts, as chancellor and home secretary, respectively.
Until the party gate scandal and controversy over his wife’s tax status and his American green card, Sunak was seen as a future prime minister.
The cabinet also has former leadership contender, Sajid Javid, as the health secretary. Javid has previously run several government departments including the Treasury and the Home Office – two of the four highest in the land.
Sajid Javid (second from left) and Sunder Katwala (second from right) with Eastern Eye’s Shailesh Solanki (left) and Kalpesh Solanki
“I think Britain is ready for an Asian prime minister,” Paul Uppal, former MP for Wolverhampton South-West, told Eastern Eye. “All three of them are very, very capable individuals. And I think they bring their Asian background and heritage in their presentation and communication skills, which I think makes them better politicians.
“When you look at the way Asian communities have integrated into the UK, it’s been one of the great success stories. I think the British public, are probably more receptive to this idea than a lot of other places in the world. I think they’re ready for it. I think the whole country would be quite warm and quite receptive to the idea of an Asian prime minister.”
But Katwala warned that institutions “with economic and cultural power need to catch up” with what the government was doing in promoting racial diversity.
In terms of ethnic representation overall in the UK’s workforce, Uppal added: “Obviously, there are issues and there are still areas where there’s under representation. The Asian community is under-represented in certain areas, and yet, conversely, we’re overrepresented in other areas.
“There seems to be some professions that second generation, third generation, Asians seem to gravitate towards. But there seems to barriers in other professions which lead to lower representation.”
The British Future report urges action rather than talk when it comes to improving racial equality.
“One early legacy of the anti-racism protests of 2020 has been a broader sense among black and Asian Britons of overdue conversations beginning to take place, especially at work but the jury remains out on how far talk will turn to action,” it said.
Another study reached similar conclusions. A survey by diversity and inclusion training providers, Pearl Kandola, found that 42 per cent of Asians and 60 per cent of black people said they had experienced racism in the workplace.
Binna Kandola
“I think a significant part of the issue is that too many people in too many organisations think that race isn’t a problem,” Binna Kandola told Eastern Eye.
“There needs to be a recognition, that racism is not non-existent, it’s acknowledged, it still exists.
“Organisations need to actually create an environment where people feel safe enough to speak up when these things happen. So, when an individual is in a situation and they’re feeling uncomfortable about what’s being said or done, they don’t feel able to speak up about it, then you have an issue. The issue is that you haven’t created an environment that is psychological safe, where that behaviour can be challenged.”
Only a third of those surveyed by British Future think things will improve on race in this decade, while a quarter of ethnic minority adults and a fifth of white respondents fear things will get worse.
It added that the rising educational success of new generations of graduates makes it ever more urgent to tackle ethnic disparities in recruitment, based on the name on your CV.
But Kandola says ethnic minority graduates face an uphill battle to attain leadership roles in organisations right from when they leave university. “Our research shows that six months after graduation, minority graduates are less likely to be in employment. So, there’s already a gap that starts to appear. Then three years after graduation, a pay gap starts to appear between the white and their minority peers. So, it would appear to be the case that minorities are not being given the development opportunities from the very start of their careers. And then that just gets worse as time progresses.”
Kandola has been working with the civil service on their META (Minority Ethnic Talent Association) programme which trains and develops potential senior leaders from ethnic minority communities. “With this programme we found that something like 60 to 70 per cent of people were ready to be promoted now. And essentially, what that shows to us is there’s been a suppression of talent which is a bad thing. But the opportunity that it provides is that you’ve got this pool of talent that’s ready, able, willing and highly motivated to make a contribution to the senior civil service of the future,” said Kandola.
As the first female chair in the 150-year history of KPMG, Bina Mehta, is determined to breakdown ‘cultural biases’ and see more people like her reach the top of organisations. “I do feel in a really privileged position that when you’re in these roles, you can really make a difference,” she said at the GG2 Leadership and Diversity Awards.
Lord Karan Bilimoria (left) and Bina Mehta
“I’m very proud to be leading our firm and I’ve got a very diverse board in terms of gender, ethnicity and social mobility – that for me is the role-modelling we want to achieve. But that is not reflected all through our organisation.”
Mehta said the organisation has introduced the strategy ‘Our KPMG: A fairer future for all’, which has set diversity and inclusion targets for 2030, that includes having a leadership team that consists of at least 40 per cent women, 20 per cent from ethnic minorities, and 29 per cent from lower socio-economic background.
“When I joined 30 years ago, the male-female ratio of our intake of graduates was 50/50, which is roughly the same now. But back then there were only two-three female partners. One in four of our partners are now female. We still have a long way to go, but that’s progress,” she said. “There are so many biases that are ingrained in society. I almost didn’t go to India (in 1993 to setup KPMG in the
country) because my manager at the time thought as an unmarried Asian woman, my family wouldn’t allow me to go.
“I think we are a lot more aware of these biases now and, as businesses, we have a huge responsibility to lead change in society.
“We want to recruit talent from all backgrounds, right? We have to do specific, focused work with areas of cultural and social mobility. We have to create pathways to attract different people with different interests so we can have an inclusive, supportive and diverse culture.”
Britain’s workforce has been boosted by an increase in immigration since implementation of the post-Brexit immigration rules, Home Office figures have shown. In total in 2021, there were 239,987 work-related visas granted. This was a 110 per cent increase on 2020 (114,528 visas) and 25 per cent higher than 2019 (192,559). Indians (70,099 visas) received the highest number of work visas last year. There were also 98,747 study visas handed to Indian nationals.
Immigration played a central role in the Brexit campaign during the 2016 EU referendum. But six years on, there has been a shift in attitude, with the British Future survey finding that 53 per cent of the public now believe the impact of immigration to be positive, while less than a third consider it negative.
While concerns that migrants take jobs from British workers were widespread in 2012, these have subsided over the years. Today, only a third see migration as having a negative impact on jobs, compared to two-thirds a decade ago.
The biggest change in attitudes involves the NHS, in part due to the role played by migrant healthcare workers during the pandemic.
Dr Chaand Nagpaul
, BMA chair of council, said: “If the Covid-19 pandemic has taught us anything it is just how vital the NHS and its workforce is.”
According to the British Medical Association (BMA), international doctors make up around 29 per cent of the NHS workforce. But it still estimates that England is around 50,000 doctors short in comparison to comparable EU countries.
Dr Nagpaul has urged the government to recognise the importance of foreign doctors to the UK by granting them and their families automatic indefinite leave to remain. “If the government fail to act to reward experienced international doctors, then we risk worsening the current workforce pressures and backlog of care facing the NHS. In turn, the hidden cost of immigration barriers will inevitably be patient care.
“Granting International Medical Graduates (IMGs)/doctors, and their dependents, currently in the UK indefinite leave without charge would not only recognise their invaluable and selfless commitment to fighting Covid-19 in the UK but would also ensure that these doctors are able to continue to contribute their invaluable expertise to the NHS without the added concern of immigration status.
“We know from our members that the financial and mental burden of the immigration process is constant and huge. This is not something that doctors should have to worry about while caring for patients on the frontline.
“Other countries have taken steps to recognise and support their international workers’ contributions during the pandemic. Removing the financial and bureaucratic barriers in place for IMGs isn’t a huge ask or a difficult decision for the government to make but rather a vital one that must be taken to protect the health service and the lives of millions across the UK.”
In 2012, only 24 per cent felt that immigrants’ skills and labour were necessary to help Britain’s economic recovery. A decade later, in 2022, more than double (53 per cent) acknowledge the benefits of immigration.
Award-winning chef Cyrus Todiwala has seen the positive impact immigrants have had on the UK’s food industry. “One part of the Brexit vote did veer towards fear of being overrun by immigrants. But what was forgotten is that people of mixed colour and race actually do a vast majority of the ordinary and some of the most testing jobs in this nation.
“Brexit has left behind it a swathe of voids and vacancies everywhere with manpower never as valued as it is now. So more than anything it should help to bridge gaps and bring greater social cohesion. However the government and local bodies collectively need to ensure that more immigrants get paid work. All our effort needs to be made to make every immigrant feel they are a part of Britain and they are here to contribute.”
Lord Karan Bilimoria, who accompanied prime minister Johnson during his trip to India last month, thinks that immigration will be a key factor in any Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the UK and India.
“The UK points-based immigration system is now more open to Indian workers than previous visa routes,” he said. “And there is much more to achieve. For our services sector, in particular, mobility is crucial as they rely on the movement of professionals across borders to help seal deals and complete projects.
“Businesses will be looking for the government of India to extend business visitor period from 90 to 180 days, like India has agreed with the other South-East Asian states.
“The UK and India have the huge advantage of the living bridge of 1.5 million people of Indian origin living in the UK, its most successful ethnic minority.
“Working together on an ambitious UK-India free trade agreement that slashes tariffs, improves the ability to move talent across borders as well as data, will be the crucial foundation for a deal that delivers for businesses.”
An inspiring evening of sport, solidarity, and celebration unfolded on Friday (13) as Her Excellency Nimisha J Madhvani, High Commissioner of Uganda to the UK, hosted a dynamic fundraising event for the Tritons Uganda Rugby Tour 2025. The fundraiser drew attention to a groundbreaking moment in UK and Ugandan rugby relations, the first ever UK women’s rugby team set to tour Uganda.
The high-energy evening included guest appearances by celebrated rugby personalities Simon Shaw, a former England lock and British & Irish Lion, and Shaunagh Brown, an inspirational former England Red Roses international.
Set to take place from 19th to 23rd November 2025, the Tritons Uganda Tour will see both a men’s and women’s UK team travel to the "Pearl of Africa" to face the Uganda Club Select and National Select XVs. The tour, organised by Tritons Sports in collaboration with the Uganda Rugby Union, is poised to make history, marking the first ever UK women’s rugby team to play in Uganda.
Last year’s men’s match against the Ugandan National Veterans XV left an indelible mark. The 2025 tour is expected to build on that legacy with renewed purpose, inviting players and supporters alike to “Play. Explore. Make History.”
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The couple were married from 2003 to 2016 and have two children
The sudden death of billionaire businessman Sunjay Kapur at the age of 53 has raised questions over the future of his vast wealth and who stands to inherit it. Best known in the public eye for his marriage to Bollywood actress Karisma Kapoor, Kapur leaves behind a family spread across three marriages — including two children with Kapoor.
Global business, personal fortune
Kapur was the chairman of Sona BLW Precision Forgings Ltd, commonly known as Sona Comstar, a global automotive components firm headquartered in Gurugram, India. He took charge of the company after the death of his father Dr Surinder Kapur in 2015 and steered it to significant success, particularly in the electric vehicle (EV) sector. The company was listed on the Indian stock exchange in 2021 and is now valued at approximately £2.95 billion, according to Bloomberg.
At the time of his death on 13 June in London, Kapur's personal net worth was estimated at around £980 million ($1.2 billion), with most of it tied to his stake in the company.
Family and children
Kapur was married three times. His first marriage, to designer Nandita Mahtani, ended in 2000. From 2003 to 2016, he was married to actress Karisma Kapoor, with whom he had two children — Samaira, now 20, and Kiaan, 14. He later married entrepreneur Priya Sachdev in 2017, and the couple have a six-year-old son, Azarias.
Inheritance and past settlements
There has been no official word from the family or company about the contents of Kapur’s will or the structure of his estate. However, reports suggest that under Indian inheritance law, his current wife Priya Sachdev would manage the estate unless otherwise specified in a will.
According to earlier reports from ANI in 2016, during divorce proceedings with Karisma Kapoor, Kapur had purchased bonds worth around £1.3 million (₹14 crore) each for Samaira and Kiaan. These bonds reportedly generate a monthly income of around £9,400 (₹10 lakh) for each child — a move seen as part of his legacy planning.
As part of the divorce settlement, a family property in Mumbai was also transferred to Karisma Kapoor, who retains full custody of the two children.
Uncertain future
While the details of Kapur’s current estate plan are not public, Indian media reports suggest his sisters may take on management roles within Sona Comstar. The company has said that business operations remain unaffected and pledged to uphold his legacy.
For now, it remains unclear how his estimated £980 million fortune will be distributed among his heirs.
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Veeraswamy was opened in 1926 by Edward Palmer, an Anglo-Indian and retired British Indian Army officer.
VEERASWAMY, the UK's oldest Indian restaurant, is locked in a legal battle with the Crown Estate, which is seeking to evict it from its home at Victory House on Regent Street, where it has operated since 1926.
The Crown Estate wants to take back the building to renovate the upper-floor offices, which have remained empty since a flood in late 2023.
According to The Times, the plans include removing the wall that separates the restaurant’s entrance from the office entrance to create a larger reception area. The restaurant’s co-owner, Ranjit Mathrani of MW Eat, has said this would block access to Veeraswamy, effectively shutting it down.
Mathrani told The Times he had proposed several alternatives, such as sharing the entrance or giving up the first floor and retaining only the basement and mezzanine levels, but none had been accepted. “My dealings with the [Crown Estate] have been characterised by an uncompromising refusal to consider any change to their design plan,” he said in a court filing.
Veeraswamy pays around £205,000 in annual rent, and Mathrani has said he is willing to match the rent paid by future office tenants after renovation. Though initially open to relocating, he said the Crown Estate's claim of helping find a new site was “disingenuous”. “They’ve made no real attempt to find alternative sites for us,” he told The Times.
Veeraswamy’s lease expires at the end of June. However, MW Eat can continue to trade until the court hearing, expected in spring or early summer next year. If the court rules in its favour, the restaurant’s protected tenancy could allow a 14-year extension. If not, Mathrani hopes for a two-year lease to allow time for relocation. “If we lost, that would be our fallback, but moving sites will cost us about £5 million and therefore it is not our preferred option,” he said.
A spokesperson for the Crown Estate said: “We need to carry out a comprehensive refurbishment of Victory House to bring the building back into full use. We appreciate how upsetting this is for Veeraswamy and have offered to help find new premises elsewhere on our portfolio, having explored other options to accommodate the restaurant’s needs. We thank Veeraswamy and their customers for their contributions to the West End.”
Nearly a century on Regent Street
Veeraswamy was opened in 1926 by Edward Palmer, an Anglo-Indian and retired British Indian Army officer.
Located at 99-101 Regent Street, the restaurant has served regional Indian cuisine for decades, with dishes from Punjab, Lucknow, Kashmir and Goa.
It has long attracted royalty, political leaders and celebrities. Past diners include Winston Churchill, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Charlie Chaplin, and King Gustav VI of Sweden.
Ownership and Michelin recognition
In 1997, the restaurant was acquired by Ranjit Mathrani and Namitha Panjabi. They restored its interiors and integrated it into their MW Eat group.
In 2016, Veeraswamy received a Michelin star. Inspectors noted that it continued to serve “classic dishes from across the country” with care and professionalism.
Historical roots
Before opening Veeraswamy, Edward Palmer had started EP Veeraswamy & Co. in 1896 to promote Indian food in Britain.
In 1924, he advised the Indian Government Pavilion restaurant at the British Empire Exhibition, which served around 500 curries a day.
Veeraswamy was not the first Indian restaurant in the UK, but it was among the first high-end ones and has remained at its Regent Street location for 99 years.
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Aamir Khan addresses love jihad allegations and shares rare details about his family
In the lead-up to his upcoming film Sitaare Zameen Par, Aamir Khan has addressed a long-standing controversy that has trailed him for years: allegations that his 2014 film PK promoted ‘love jihad’ and disrespected religion. Speaking on Aap Ki Adalat, the actor finally offered his side of the story, calling the accusations “baseless” and “misinformed”.
“When two people fall in love and decide to marry, it’s not a conspiracy. It’s a human connection,” Aamir said, firmly rejecting the label of ‘love jihad’.
‘PK’ wasn’t against religion, it warned against blind faith: Aamir clarifies intent
Back in 2014, PK sparked debate for showing a Hindu woman in love with a Pakistani Muslim man. Critics accused the film of mocking religious beliefs. Responding to this, Aamir said the film respected all faiths and was never intended to ridicule anyone’s beliefs.
“We respect every religion deeply. PK was about being cautious of those who misuse religion to exploit people. This kind of manipulation exists in all communities,” he explained. He stressed the film’s core message: don’t fall for those who use faith as a tool for fear or financial gain.
Aamir Khan defends PK and calls out misuse of religion to create divisionGetty Images
Aamir also addressed questions about his children’s names. Despite being married to Hindu women Reena Dutta and Kiran Rao, his children carry Muslim names like Ira, Junaid, and Azad. “My wives chose the names. There was no pressure from me,” he said, adding with a smile, “Husbands don’t always get their way.”
‘Humanity over headlines’: Aamir gives personal examples to challenge narrative
To further break down the ‘love jihad’ myth, Aamir pointed to his own family. “My sister Nikhat is married to Santosh Hegde, Farhat to Rajeev Dutta, and my daughter Ira to Nupur Shikhare, all Hindu men. Will you call that love jihad too?” he asked.
He urged people to look beyond religion when it comes to relationships, calling love a personal choice that transcends labels. “When two minds connect, it’s above any religion. It’s about humanity,” he said.
Aamir says real love is a human bond not a conspiracy Getty Images
Aamir also addressed criticism for delaying his response to a recent terror attack in Pahalgam. The actor clarified that he isn’t active on social media and said the timing of his statement and the trailer release of Sitaare Zameen Par was purely coincidental.
Sitaare Zameen Par hits cinemas on 20 June.
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5 moments from the Kantara 2 shoot that shocked fans and halted filming
The shoot of Kantara 2 has been anything but smooth. What was meant to be a spiritual sequel to one of Kannada cinema’s biggest hits has instead been plagued by a series of disturbing incidents, including a drowning, a boat capsizing with Rishab Shetty on board, and even environmental fines. While the production team insists filming is on track, the number of on-set mishaps has left fans concerned and questioning the safety standards behind the camera. Here's a timeline of five serious events that disrupted the shoot.
A minibus ferrying around 20 junior artists back from set rolled over near Jadkal, Karnataka. Initial reports pointed to injuries. Hombale Films quickly countered, insisting it wasn’t their official transport and no one was seriously hurt. Filming pushed ahead almost immediately. The conflicting accounts left questions hanging about crew safety during transit.
A lunch break tragedy (7–8 May 2025)
The shoot took its darkest turn during a break at the Kollur Souparnika River location. Junior artist M.F. Kapil, just 24, went for a swim off-duty. Strong currents swept him away. Hours later, his body was recovered. Production halted. While the makers stressed this happened off-set and was a "personal accident," the death of a young crew member cast a long shadow over the production. A police probe followed.
Off-set losses (May–June 2025)
Within weeks, two more deaths struck, though not directly tied to set conditions. Comedian Rakesh Pujare succumbed to a cardiac arrest in May. Then, in June, mimicry artist Kalabhavan Niju collapsed on set with chest pain, dying en route to the hospital. While health-related, each incident highlighted the importance of on-call medical support.
Massive set destruction & environmental fines (Early 2025)
Months before the drownings and boat capsize, the team faced a different kind of blow. A massive, expensive set built for the film was utterly destroyed by fierce, unexpected storms and relentless rain. To compound the problem, the crew later drew flak and fines from forest officials, accused of disrupting habitats and illegally dumping waste during their work.
Boat capsize at Mani Reservoir (16 June 2025)
The most recent jolt came with the boat capsizing incident at the Mani Dam reservoir. While filming a scene, the vessel, overloaded with Shetty and crew, overturned, plunging everyone into the water. Shallow depths prevented fatalities, but equipment was lost, production stopped, and safety protocols came under intense scrutiny. Police are investigating overloading as a likely cause.
Each setback, from overturned vehicles to environmental pushback and sudden fatalities, has tested Kantara 2’s planners and crew. While no further fatalities have occurred since 15 June, production delays and budget increases are almost inevitable. The team now faces the dual task of maintaining its ambitious 2 October 2025 release date while ensuring every member can work without fearing for their safety.