Former Prime Minister Confronts Racially Charged Identity Debate
Rishi Sunak has publicly defined his identity as "British, English and British Asian" in a direct response to increasing racially charged language emerging from figures on the political right. The UK's first British Asian prime minister spoke out after his national identity was questioned in recent debates, sparked by controversial comments from prominent right-wing voices.
Controversial Claims Spark National Conversation
The debate intensified when podcaster Konstantin Kisin claimed Sunak was not English because he is a "brown-skinned Hindu." This assertion gained further attention when Suella Braverman, the London-born Reform MP and former home secretary, appeared to give credence to such claims by stating she herself was not English and questioning whether others born in the country could necessarily claim that identity.
More recently, Matthew Goodwin, Reform UK's candidate in the upcoming Gorton and Denton byelection, refused to disown suggestions that UK-born people from minority ethnic backgrounds might not necessarily be considered British. These interventions have created what Sunak describes as a concerning shift in acceptable political discourse.
Personal Experiences Shape Political Perspective
Speaking for the first time since these controversies emerged, the Southampton-born former Conservative leader revealed that racism directed at him and his siblings during his upbringing remains "seared in his memory." Sunak was giving evidence to the Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion, co-chaired by Sajid Javid and Jon Cruddas, which aims to improve social cohesion following recent national tragedies and unrest.
"I think there has been what I describe as a bit more 'shock jockery' recently," Sunak stated when asked about shifting boundaries in political discourse. "People are saying outrageous things to get attention. That's one of my worries about the attention economy and how we consume media now - it rewards provocative, bigoted language."
Shared Experiences Across Political Generations
Sunak reflected on his childhood experiences in Southampton, noting that while racism "stings in a way that other things don't," such incidents have become less common today. He referenced fellow Conservative Sajid Javid's recent memoir, which details the racism Javid experienced growing up in 1970s Rochdale, suggesting both politicians share concerns about maintaining social progress.
"There's always more we can do," Sunak emphasized. "And I definitely wouldn't want us to slip back into a world where racist language was heard regularly on the street or considered permissible on television."
Defining Modern British Identity
The former prime minister offered a comprehensive definition of his own identity, stating: "We're all British, and underneath that, or alongside that, you can have lots of different identities that don't come into conflict with that. I'm British, I'm British Asian, I'm British Hindu, English. Sotonian - what we call people from Southampton - and an apprentice Yorkshireman."
Sunak rejected suggestions that Britain is fundamentally racist, citing both Javid's political career and his own as evidence of progress. He also noted that his successor as Conservative leader is "a Black woman who grew up in Nigeria," suggesting Britain has made significant strides in political representation.
Broader Political Context
The commission facilitating these discussions is being supported by the Together Coalition, founded by Brendan Cox, husband of the murdered Labour MP Jo Cox. Sunak's comments follow a recent speech by Prime Minister Keir Starmer addressing British values and warning against allowing migration policy to be exploited by those who equate whiteness with Britishness.
On immigration policy specifically, Sunak expressed regret that he hadn't implemented measures to reduce numbers sooner. Regarding recent street violence and social tensions, he acknowledged that "something has gone wrong" and noted how Islamist extremists and far-right groups have been "feeding off each other" to exacerbate divisions.
This intervention represents Sunak's most comprehensive statement on identity politics since leaving office, positioning him as a voice advocating for inclusive national identity while warning against regression to more overtly racist political discourse.
