Ready for Rishi Sunak as PM? British expats in UAE are cautiously optimistic about the wealthiest politicians in UK

Ready for Rishi Sunak as PM? British expats in UAE are cautiously optimistic about the wealthiest politicians in UK

Britons express mixed feelings as the country welcomes its third Prime Minister in less than two months

Conservative party leader Rishi Sunak. Photo: AFP

Published: Mon 24 Oct 2022, 10:51 PM Last updated: Mon 24 Oct 2022, 11:01 PM

Rishi Sunak will become Britain's first Prime Minister of colour on Tuesday. After months of political and economic turmoil, the former finance minister is tasked with steering a deeply divided country through a financial downturn.

British expats in the UAE have a mixed feelings and are reacting with cautious optimism and cynicism as the country welcomes its third Prime Minister in less than two months.

"I'm weary of a new Prime Minister that is connected to great wealth, albeit mostly through his wife," said Dubai-based PR professional Ananda Shakespeare. "However, after Liz Truss, probably anyone will have better economic policies. I'd like to see calm markets and greater stability in the UK, particularly after the chaos of Brexit and the hardship that the pandemic brought to some people."

One of the wealthiest politicians in Westminster, Sunak is married to Akshata Murthy, whose father is Indian billionaire N R Narayana Murthy, founder of outsourcing giant Infosys Ltd. Earlier this year, the couple came under scanner after it was