Britain’s Anti-Russia Policies Will Continue Unchanged Under Sunak

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Sunak finds it hard to connect with the average and struggling Briton.

Written by Ahmed Adel, Cairo-based geopolitics and political economy researcher

Although Rishi Sunak is the new prime minister of the United Kingdom, it will not affect London’s relationship with Moscow, which will remain cold, just as they were under Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. Sunak has a lot of support from the ruling Conservative Party and was selected to try and save the British economy from further decline. However, along with the little indication that Britain’s foreign policy will change, there is no suggestion that the average British person has trust in him given his privileged background.

When Sunak recently became the British prime minister, the spokesman of the Russian presidency, Dmitry Peskov, said that the Kremlin sees no reason to hope for positive developments in relations with London. He also said that President Vladimir Putin did not congratulate Sunak, reminding that the UK is recognised by Moscow as an enemy state.

Even during the pre-election campaign, Sunak made harsh statements in relation to Russia and China, and upon taking office he promised to double his support to Ukraine. In his first address, Sunak stated that he is ready to lead the country into a new future and will put people’s needs above politics.

Sunak became prime minister by having the support of many MPs from the Conservative Party. Essentially, his selection as the new prime minister is not a surprise at all. It is recalled that Sunak, the child of immigrants from India, was part of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s team and showed himself to be a faithful and loyal person. Instead of criticising his predecessor Liz Truss, as new prime ministers often do, he instead thanked her for the tasks she fulfilled despite her short stint as prime minister.

He was chosen by the Conservative Party because they believe he can stabilise the party and save the British economy from further decline. It is recalled that he has worked in hedge funds and has strong connections in the financial world. For this reason, the Conservative party believes that Sunak can save the British economy or at least partially correct the current course.

The new prime minister is also considered by the Conservative party as a figure who could stabilise the situation and end schisms in the party. There are of course people who oppose him, but the serious rift that took place while Liz Truss was at the helm will probably be overcome.

After taking office, Sunak stated that he understood that he would have to work hard to regain trust after everything that had happened.

“All I can say is that I am not daunted. I know the high office I have accepted, and I hope to live up to its demands,” he said.

It would not be surprising if resentment against him slowly but surely grew. The new Prime Minister is richer than King Charles III. In fact, he is the wealthiest British ruler in history, a contrast for a country where inequality is advancing by leaps and bounds. According to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) based on the Gini Coefficient, the UK ranks among the most unequal nations in Europe, and Sunak effectively epitomises that.

Sunak is married to Akshata Murthy, daughter of the Indian billionaire Narayana Murthy, named in some media as “India’s Bill Gates” and owner of Infosys, a tech giant headquartered in Bangalore. ​The case of Akshata Murty generated a stir in British society after the press revealed that the billionaire has for years been under the UK’s “non-resident” tax regime which allows her to avoid paying a huge amount of tax. Last year alone, Akshata reported $15.3 million in profits from her Infosys stake. In taxes, however, she only paid $35,000.

Coming from such a background, it will be difficult for Sunak to overcome public perceptions, which will largely depend on his success as prime minister. There is a kind of annoyance now on the part of British citizens towards politicians who have been linked to the private sector at a very high level, as is the case with Sunak.

What will remain unchanged for certain though is Britain’s foreign policy. Just as it was under Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, provocative statements, military exercises near Russia’s borders, sanctions and support for Ukraine will continue unabated. And all this comes at a time when a new prime minister, who is far detached from the realities of the cost-of-living crisis, has just come into power.

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