Rishi Sunak has spoken of his motivation behind taking on the top job at 10 Downing Street in the wake of intense political turmoil last year as his “dharma”.
In a televised interview with ‘Talk TV’ host Piers Morgan at his Downing Street home to mark 100 days in the job as Britain’s first Indian-origin Prime Minister on Thursday (2), he was asked what made him take on the tough task amid a crippling cost-of-living crisis and his predecessor Liz Truss’ shortest term as Prime Minister at just 45 days.
“For me it’s about duty. There’s a concept in Hinduism called dharma, which roughly translates into duty and that’s how I was raised. It was about doing the things that were expected of you and trying to do the right thing,” he replied.
“Even though it was going to be a nightmare job… I felt that I could make a difference and was the best person to make a difference at that moment, especially given the challenges that people were facing, what they were seeing with their mortgages and that’s ultimately why I put myself forward to do it knowing that it would be difficult and challenging but ultimately doing what was my duty in that situation. I believe deeply in service and thought I could make a difference for the country,” he said.
The 42-year-old, who swore his oath of allegiance on being elected member of Parliament in the House of Commons on the ‘Bhagavad Gita’, has often spoken about his Hindu faith giving him strength.
The UK-born son of National Health Service (NHS) doctor Yashveer and pharmacist Usha has spoken of regular visits the temple with his family and during last year’s leadership campaign, he took time out to make a visit to a Hare Krishna temple on the outskirts of London for Janmashtami to seek blessings.
In the wide-ranging interview this week, he also referred to his wife Akshata – the daughter of Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy – as his support system and admitted he was “batting above his average” with her as his life partner.
He revealed how he romantically proposed to her, going down on one knee, and praised “the support that she gives me in this job”.
“I wouldn’t be able to do this job without her love and support to keep going,” he said.
Asked about the “mantra” the British public could cling on to, he added: “Have hope because I can make it better and I will make it better. That’s what I am working day and night to do.” Morgan also asked him about his personal wealth and he repeated a previous commitment to publish his tax returns in the interest of “transparency”.
“They [tax returns] will be published shortly. As you know the tax filing deadline was just a few days ago… they will be released shortly,” he said.
On the wave of public sector strikes over pay, Sunak said he would “love to give the nurses a massive pay rise” but pointed out that he could not, as doing so would stoke inflation.
“Even if it’s not popular, it’s the right thing for the country to stay the course to beat inflation,” he said.
(PTI)
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)