Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Sunak joins Conservative Friends of India for Diwali celebration

The event saw a strong turnout, including Indian high commissioner Vikram Doraswami.

This marked Sunak’s last engagement as leader of the Conservative Party, and it was the group’s first Diwali reception since moving into opposition.
This marked Sunak’s last engagement as leader of the Conservative Party, and it was the group’s first Diwali reception since moving into opposition.

THE CONSERVATIVE Friends of India (CF India) held its annual Diwali reception last week, with former prime minister Rishi Sunak in attendance.

This marked Sunak’s last engagement as leader of the Conservative Party, and it was the group’s first Diwali reception since moving into opposition.


The event saw a strong turnout, including Indian high commissioner Vikram Doraswami.

CF India co-chair Reena Ranger reflected on the timing, noting that Diwali had coincidentally marked both Sunak’s first and final days in office. She also recalled Sunak’s participation in lighting a Diwali diva outside No 11 Downing Street during his time as chancellor and outside No 10 as prime minister last year.

Ameet Jogia, a political adviser to Sunak, spoke at the event, highlighting Sunak’s legacy and his experience working closely with him since 2022.

Sunak, a member of CF India, commended the group for its role in the Conservative Party.

CF India has expanded significantly, becoming the largest affiliate group within the party and making strides in key constituencies with high British Indian populations, such as Harrow, Slough, and Leicester.

Speaking at the event, Sunak said, “Conservative Friends of India has a very special place in my heart. Throughout my time as prime minister and Leader of our party, CF India has been a force to be reckoned with… especially in strengthening relations between the UK and India.”

During the reception, Sunak met and took photos with attendees before heading to Leicester, where he celebrated Diwali at Shree Ram Mandir with Leicester’s new MP, Shivani Raja.

More For You

british-muslims-iStock

The study noted that this identification was not due to any doctrinal obligation but was influenced by the perception that many Muslims do not feel fully accepted as British. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Majority of British Muslims identify by faith first, study finds

A STUDY by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) has found that most British Muslims identify primarily with their religion rather than their nationality.

The research, based on a survey of 815 British Muslim adults by Whitestone Insight, revealed that 71 per cent of respondents identified as Muslim first, while 27 per cent identified as British, English, or Scottish first.

Keep ReadingShow less
Car Tax Changes: EV Owners Now Required to Pay for the First Time

Owners of electric vehicles registered on or after 1 April 2025 will pay £10 for the first year, followed by the standard VED rate of £195 from the second year. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Car tax changes take effect: EV owners to pay for first time

FROM today, 1 April 2025, electric cars, vans, and motorcycles in the UK will be subject to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for the first time.

The change, introduced in the 2022 Autumn Statement by former Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, aims to make motoring taxation fairer.

Keep ReadingShow less
scotland-minimum-wages-iStock

Full-time workers on the National Living Wage will receive an annual pay increase of £1,400 in real terms. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Wage increase takes effect for thousands of workers in Scotland

HUNDREDS of thousands of workers in Scotland will see a pay increase as new National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates take effect from Tuesday.

The changes will benefit approximately 220,000 people, according to STV News.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk-energy-bill-iStock

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

April bill increases put financial strain on single parents

A RANGE of essential household bills are increasing from April, with Citizens Advice warning that single parents will be among the hardest hit.

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased, BBC reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools
Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper in 'Adolescence'
Netflix

Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools

THE NETFLIX drama Adolescence will be shown in UK secondary schools as part of efforts to address harmful online influences on young boys, officials announced on Monday.

The show has sparked debate over the impact of toxic and misogynistic content on the internet. Prime minister Keir Starmer met the show's creators, charities, and young people at Downing Street, calling the initiative an important step in starting discussions about the content teenagers are exposed to online.

Keep ReadingShow less