A STEP BACK TO SANITY
Sunak’s victory is a step back to sanity but no one should be in any doubt about the scale of the challenges ahead. Like his predecessor, he finds himself with no money and no reliable majority. His personal wealth opens him to accusations of being detached from ordinary voters.
An early sign of his approach will be how much he shuffles his Cabinet. There is a stability argument for limited tinkering but he will want the best team he can assemble while avoiding Truss’ mistake of shutting out those who were not supporters.
As important is that, despite his two years as chancellor, Sunak is still a relative newcomer. He will be the least experienced prime minister of modern times. This was obvious in the errors that cost him his original place as heir apparent.
Holding on to a US green card and being wholly unprepared for the row over his wife’s “non-dom” status were signs of political naivety. MPs will worry that he lacks the instinct and skills of a political street fighter.
On the upside, he is serious and diligent and, unlike Truss, a gifted communicator. He will also seek to return the Tories to what was once a core principle: Being responsible stewards of the economy.
It is also an important moment for British society. On Deepavali, the UK got its first Hindu and first non-white prime minister. It is a profound statement about modern Britain and one of which his party ought to be proud.
While Labour, which is more committed to diversity schemes, has yet to elect anyone but a white man as leader, the Conservatives will have delivered both the first female and first non-white prime ministers.
Britons, be they Tory supporters or not, need this government to succeed in stabilising the country and the economy. It may be that the damage done by the Conservatives means the next election is already forfeited, though two years is a long time.
But Sunak and the Conservatives now owe it to the country to restore order, stability and the UK’s reputation in the world. Both the party and, more importantly, the country now need a government that does not treat the nation’s institutions, economy and standing like just one more political game.
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