Rishi Sunak's drive and intellect required in push for PM

A life of high achievement could yet see the bright, young former chancellor become Britain's first Asian leader

Former British chancellor Rishi Sunak arrives for a hustings event in central London. EPA

In his 42 years Rishi Sunak has achieved a remarkable amount in a very short time, a quality that will very much required if he is to become Britain’s next prime minister.

He will have to rocket out of the traps if he is to convince the Conservative membership that he would make the better candidate as leader than Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.

A man of great capabilities, immense drive and smooth charm, he may be able to overhaul the front-runner in opinion polls.

But he has only days in which to make a positive effect as ballot letters to the 160,000 Conservative membership will be dropping on doormats from August 1. That membership, largely male, white, middle-class and living in southern England, might rapidly make up their minds and post their vote within a few days despite the deadline being September 3.

So, Mr Sunak needs to make something happen. For a man who has been focused and striven throughout his life, that is within his capabilities.

Born in 1980, to parents of Indian heritage who had arrived in Britain via East Africa, the young Rishi was given a solid start to life.

Like many successful immigrants, his father a doctor, his mother a pharmacist, his parents understood the advantages to be gained from a private British education.

With the fees challenging, the young Rishi was put forward for the prestigious Winchester College scholarship. He failed but the experience gave him — and his parents — the scent that life success could be achieved with an elite education. His parents took on extra jobs, found the money and Rishi excelled, becoming the first Asian head-boy of Winchester, the highly academic school in southern England.

The University of Oxford was the natural next stop, but unlike many of his contemporaries, the 18-year-old learnt hard graft and humility working as a waiter in an Indian restaurant to save money for college.

While not high-profile among the Oxford’s young Conservative buccaneers, he did become president of the university’s Investment Society inviting bankers on how to make it big in the City.

Former chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak is a candidate to replace Boris Johnson as British prime minister. PA

Rishi Sunak arrives at an event in London to launch his campaign to be the next Conservative leader and prime minister. Reuters

Mr Sunak arrives with his green budget box to deliver a keynote speech at the Cop26 summit in Glasgow, Scotland, in November 2021. Getty Images

Mr Sunak works on his budget speech with staff in the offices at 11 Downing Street, October 2021. Photo: HM Treasury

At the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester in October 2021. Getty Images

Mr Sunak with the budget box at 11 Downing Street in March 2021. Getty Images

Mr Sunak on a visit to the Imperial Clinic Research Facility at Hammersmith Hospital, London, in November 2020. Getty Images

Rishi Sunak places a 'Eat Out To Help Out' sticker in the window of a restaurant during a visit to the Isle of Bute, Scotland, in August 2020. Getty Images

Meeting shoppers on the High Street in Northallerton in Yorkshire in June 2020. Photo: HM Treasury

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak use hand sanitiser during a visit to Pizza Pilgrims in West India Quay, London Docklands, as lockdown rules eased in June 2020. Getty Images

Firmly focused on financial success, he graduated in 2001 going straight into the money by working for investment bank Goldman Sachs.

An MBA at Stanford University, aged 24, not only rounded his education but also his personal life where he met the creative and fashion-loving Akshata Murthy, daughter of billionaire Narayan Murthy, India's sixth-richest person.

After a four-year courtship, where both also developed an admiration for California, they were married at a two-day celebration in Bangalore.

Having made his own fortune investing in companies from Silicon Valley to India, Mr Sunak set upon the idea of entering politics. His motivation, friends say, was driven by a desire for the common good rather than as an ideologue.

The Conservatives clearly recognised his qualities and he was given the very safe seat of Richmond in Yorkshire to fight in the 2015 general election.

Mr Sunak immediately set down his roots by purchasing a £1.5 million Georgian manor house with 12 acres and an ornamental lake.

Rishi Sunak opens the Great Ayton Village Fete in Yorkshire in June. Getty Images

Joined by his wife, dressed in Barbour jacket and Wellington boots, the couple toured fetes and markets gaining popularity and respect, as well as the seat.

Despite his 27,000 majority, Mr Sunak does not neglect his constituents, regularly entertaining locals at his manor in the seat.

His rise through Parliament was swift. He became chief secretary to the treasury — replacing the promoted Ms Truss — and then when Sajid Javid resigned in early 2020, was appointed chancellor, becoming the fifth Winchester old boy to hold the post.

Mr Sunak, who took his parliamentary oath to the queen on the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita, was faced with the most challenging financial crisis of his generation when the Covid-19 pandemic hit only a few weeks later.

His furlough scheme and deft handling of the economy won many plaudits. But his economic views fell foul of Boris Johnson, ultimately leading to his resignation, only 10 minutes after Mr Javid’s on 5 July.

His campaign to win the votes of MPs went smoothly, his debate performance on live television cemented his coolness under pressure. But all those skills honed in the classroom, the boardroom and parliamentary corridors will be required if he is to succeed and become the first non-white British prime minister.

UK Conservatives on the leadership campaign trail - in pictures

Candidates Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss at the Conservative Party leadership election hustings at Wembley Arena, London. This was the final hustings attended by Tory Party members who will vote for the new leader and next prime minister. EPA

Liz Truss addresses Conservative Party members at Wembley Arena. AP

Mr Sunak puts forward his case to be leader while speaking at Wembley Arena. Bloomberg

Mr Sunak visits his family's old business, Bassett Pharmacy in Southampton, while on the campaign trail. Reuters

Ms Truss speaks to staff at Condimentum Ltd at the Food Enterprise Park in Norwich. Getty Images

A Rishi Sunak supporter at a hustings event in Norfolk. PA

Mr Sunak greets people at a leadership hustings in Manchester. Bloomberg

Ms Truss poses for a selfie with a supporter as she arrives for the event in Manchester. Getty

Rishi Sunak looks through the sights of an anti-tank missile launcher, supplied to Ukraine, during a visit to the Thales Defence System plant in Belfast, Northern Ireland. AP

Liz Truss at a Conservative Party leadership campaign event in Belfast. Getty

Liz Truss meets supporters before a hustings in Perth, Scotland. Getty

Rishi Sunak speaks during a campaign visit to Cluny Castle in Inverurie, Scotland. Getty

Police hold back protesters outside Perth Concert Hall, Scotland, where Conservative leadership candidates Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak were speaking. PA

A mural showing the two leadership contestants appears on a wall in Belfast, Northern Ireland. AP

Rishi Sunak during a visit to St John's Wood Synagogue, north London. PA

Liz Truss at the Conservative Party leadership election hustings in Cheltenham. EPA

Rishi Sunak during a hustings event in Cheltenham. Reuters

Liz Truss speaks to scientists during a campaign visit to a life sciences laboratory at Alderley Park in Manchester. PA

Rishi Sunak during a campaign hustings in Darlington, England. Bloomberg

Liz Truss meets party members before she speaks at the Darlington campaign hustings. Getty

Rishi Sunak arrives for the Darlington hustings. Getty

Liz Truss plays pool during a visit to the Onside Future Youth Zone in London. Reuters

Rishi Sunak looks at a book with Teddy Openshaw, 4, as his father, Henry, looks on after a Conservative leadership campaign event in Ribble Valley, Lancashire, England. Getty

Liz Truss plays table tennis with former Conservative party leader Iain Duncan Smith during a visit to the Onside Future Youth Zone in London. Reuters

Liz Truss with supporters at a campaign event in Solihull, England. Reuters

Rishi Sunak attends a campaign event held by his party in Bexhill, England. Reuters

A protester is removed as Ms Truss speaks during the Conservative Party leadership hustings in Eastbourne. Bloomberg

Mr Sunak speaks at an event in Edinburgh. PA

Ms Truss leaves the hall in Exeter, south-west England, after her speech to a Conservative Party membership hustings. Getty

Mr Sunak speaks at the University of Exeter in south-west England. AP

A supporter of Ms Truss at a Conservative Party hustings in Exeter, south-west England. Getty

Ms Truss at a hustings event at the Pavilion conference centre at Elland Road in Leeds. PA

Mr Sunak in Salisbury watching a screening of the Uefa Women's Euro 2022 final between England and Germany at Wembley stadium. England won 2-1 in extra time. PA

Ms Truss before the Uefa Women's Euro 2022 final at Wembley stadium in London. AFP

Mr Sunak meets Tory members at Fontwell Park Racecourse. Reuters

Ms Truss at an event in Dereham, Norfolk. AFP

Mr Sunak in Ropley, near Winchester, Hampshire. PA

Ms Truss speaks as Conservative Member of Parliament Tom Tugendhat looks on at a Conservative Party leadership campaign event at Biggin Hill Airport. Getty

Ms Truss on the campaign trail in Woodford Green, on the outskirts of London. Reuters

Mr Sunak at a Conservative Party hustings event in Leeds. AFP

Ms Truss speaks at the hustings event in Leeds. AFP

Sunak and Truss-themed souvenirs at a stand during the Leeds hustings event. Reuters

Ms Truss, and her mother, Patricia, arrive for the hustings event. Getty

Ms Truss poses with supporters in Morley, England. Getty

Mr Sunak delivers a speech during a campaign event in Newmarket. AFP

Ms Truss and Jake Berry, MP for Rossendale and Darwen, during a visit to a broadband interchange company in Leeds. PA

Mr Sunak answers questions as he takes part in the hustings in Leeds. AFP

Ms Truss speaks at an event at a private house with members of the Conservative Party in Woodford Green. PA

Ms Truss and Mr Sunak pose for a picture before a BBC leadership debate at Victoria Hall in Hanley. Getty

Ms Truss addresses Mr Sunak during the televised debate. Getty

Mr Sunak, with daughters Krishna and Anushka, and wife Akshata Murthy, during a visit to Vaculug tyre specialists at Gonerby Hill Foot, Grantham. PA

Ms Truss speaks to people while campaigning in Marden. Getty

Ms Truss celebrates after being named, along with Mr Sunak, one of the final two candidates in the race to become the UK's next prime minister. PA

Mr Sunak outside his campaign office in central London. EPA

Ms Truss outside Downing Street in London. Reuters

Rishi Sunak meets Conservative Party members and activists, in Teesport, Redcar. Reuters

Conservative leadership candidates Mr Sunak, Ms Truss, Kemi Badenoch, presenter Julie Etchingham, Tom Tugendhat and Penny Mordaunt during 'Britain's Next Prime Minister: The ITV Debate' in London. EPA

Ms Badenoch arrives at Here East studios in Stratford, east London, before a live television debate. PA

Mr Sunak arrives at a London event to launch his campaign to be the next Conservative Party leader and UK prime minister. Reuters

Mr Tugendhat appears on the BBC One current affairs programme, 'Sunday Morning'. PA

Ms Badenoch, Ms Mordaunt, Mr Sunak, Ms Truss and Mr Tugendhat before the live television debate. PA

Ms Mordaunt arrives for the launch of her Conservative leadership campaign at the Cinnamon Club in Westminster. PA

Ms Truss speaks at the launch event for her campaign to become the next leader of the Tory Party and Britain's prime minister, in London. EPA

Chancellor of the Exchequer Nadhim Zahawi, one of the candidates who has been knocked out of the race, giving a speech at the Churchill War Rooms. PA

Former leadership candidate Jeremy Hunt appearing on the BBC One current affairs programme, 'Sunday Morning'. PA

Sajid Javid attending the launch of his campaign to be Conservative Party leader and prime minister, at the Cinnamon Club in London. He has since been knocked out of the contest. PA

Rehman Chishti is interviewed after announcing his bid to become the next prime minister. Mr Chishti is no longer in the race. Getty

Mr Tugendhat speaking at the launch of his campaign. PA

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries and Conservative MP Iain Duncan Smith arrive for the Truss campaign launch event. Getty

Former leadership candidate Attorney General Suella Braverman at the Churchill War Rooms in central London. PA

Supporters of Mr Sunak wait for his arrival ahead of the campaign launch. Bloomberg

Mr Tugendhat makes a speech at the launch of his campaign. PA

Mr Javid mops his brow while launching his campaign. Getty

Ms Truss leaves for work after her announcement that she would be running for the leadership of the Conservative Party. Getty