History of Rishi Sunak in Timeline
Rishi Sunak is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2022 to 2024. He also served as Leader of the Conservative Party during the same period, subsequently becoming Leader of the Opposition following the 2024 election defeat to the Labour Party. Prior to becoming Prime Minister, he was Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2020 to 2022 under Boris Johnson. He has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Richmond and Northallerton since 2015.
1935: Paternal grandfather migrated to Nairobi
In 1935, Rishi Sunak's paternal grandfather Ramdas Sunak migrated from Gujranwala to Nairobi.
1949: Father's birth year
In 1949, Rishi Sunak's father was born in the Kenya Colony.
1966: Parents migrated to the UK
In 1966, both of Rishi Sunak's parents moved to the UK.
1974: First Chancellor to raise the corporation tax rate since Labour's Denis Healey in 1974.
Sunak was the first Chancellor to raise the corporation tax rate since Labour's Denis Healey in 1974.
1977: Parents Married
In 1977, Rishi Sunak's parents got married in the UK.
April 1978: Denis Healey's High Satisfaction Score
In April 1978, Labour's Denis Healey had a high satisfaction score as British chancellor, a record that Rishi Sunak would later surpass in September 2020.
May 1980: Rishi Sunak Born
In May 1980, Rishi Sunak was born. He would later become a prominent figure in British politics.
1995: Mother owned Sunak Pharmacy
From 1995, Rishi Sunak's mother owned the Sunak Pharmacy in Southampton.
1996: Worst Local Election Results Since 1996
In March 2024, there were suggestions that Sunak could face a leadership challenge before the upcoming general election, particularly if the Conservatives performed poorly in the local elections on May 2nd. Sunak stated he would resist such a challenge.
1997: Trend of prime ministers living above 11 Downing Street
In 1997, a trend started of prime ministers living in the four-bedroom flat above 11 Downing Street, a trend that Rishi Sunak reversed in October 2022.
1998: Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill
In November 2023, the government introduced the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, emergency legislation giving ministers the power to disapply sections of the Human Rights Act 1998 and certain aspects of international law in order to allow them to declare Rwanda a safe country according to UK law.
2001: Graduation from Oxford
In 2001, Rishi Sunak graduated with a first in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Lincoln College, Oxford.
2001: Joined Goldman Sachs
In 2001, Rishi Sunak started working as an analyst for the investment bank Goldman Sachs.
September 2006: Partner at TCI
In September 2006, Rishi Sunak became a partner at The Children's Investment Fund Management (TCI).
2006: MBA from Stanford
In 2006, Rishi Sunak earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Stanford University as a Fulbright Scholar.
August 2009: Sunak married Akshata Murty
In August 2009, Rishi Sunak married Akshata Murty, the daughter of N. R. Narayana Murthy and Sudha Murty. They met while studying at Stanford University.
October 2010: Launched Theleme Partners
In October 2010, Rishi Sunak launched Theleme Partners, a new hedge fund firm, with former colleagues.
2011: Birth of First Daughter
In 2011, Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murty welcomed the birth of their first daughter.
2013: Director of Catamaran Ventures
From 2013, Rishi Sunak was a director of the investment firm Catamaran Ventures.
2013: Birth of Second Daughter
In 2013, Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murty celebrated the birth of their second daughter.
October 2014: Conservative Candidate Selection
In October 2014, Rishi Sunak was selected as the Conservative candidate for Richmond (Yorks), a seat previously held by William Hague.
2014: Mother closed Sunak Pharmacy
In 2014, Rishi Sunak's mother closed the Sunak Pharmacy in Southampton.
2015: Stepped down from Catamaran Ventures
In 2015, Rishi Sunak stepped down from Catamaran Ventures.
2015: Elected as MP
In 2015, Rishi Sunak was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Richmond (Yorks).
2015: Election to the House of Commons
In 2015, Rishi Sunak was elected to the House of Commons.
2016: Brexit Support and Think Tank Reports
In 2016, Rishi Sunak supported the campaign to leave the European Union and criticized the EU's immigration laws. Also in 2016, he wrote a report for the Centre for Policy Studies advocating for free ports after Brexit.
2016: Supported Brexit Campaign
In 2016, as a backbencher, Rishi Sunak supported the successful campaign for Brexit in the European Union membership referendum.
2017: Re-election and Infrastructure Paper
In 2017, Rishi Sunak was re-elected at the general election with an increased majority. In the same year, Sunak wrote a paper for Policy Exchange on the importance and fragility of the UK's undersea infrastructure.
2018: Appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary
In 2018, Rishi Sunak was appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Government in May's second government.
2019: Support for Boris Johnson
In 2019, Rishi Sunak supported Boris Johnson's bid to succeed May in the Conservative Party leadership election.
2019: Appointed Chief Secretary to the Treasury
In 2019, Rishi Sunak was appointed Chief Secretary to the Treasury by Boris Johnson and became a member of the Privy Council the next day.
2019: Appointment to Junior Ministerial and Cabinet Roles
In 2019, Rishi Sunak was appointed to the junior ministerial position of Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Government by Theresa May and later appointed as Chief Secretary to the Treasury by Boris Johnson.
2019: Re-election
In 2019, Rishi Sunak was re-elected at the general election with an increased majority.
2019: Conservative Party Pledge on Net Migration
In 2019, the Conservative Party and Boris Johnson pledged to reduce net migration below 250,000 per year.
January 2020: Introduction of Advice for Travellers
In late January 2020, in response to the first confirmed COVID-19 cases, Rishi Sunak introduced advice for travellers coming from affected countries and began contact tracing.
February 2020: Appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer
In February 2020, Rishi Sunak was promoted to Chancellor of the Exchequer after Sajid Javid resigned.
February 2020: Introduction of Advice for Travellers
In February 2020, in response to the first confirmed COVID-19 cases, Rishi Sunak introduced advice for travellers coming from affected countries and began contact tracing.
February 2020: Rumors of Economic Ministry
In February 2020, there were briefings suggesting a new economic ministry led by Sunak might be established, though Javid remained Chancellor.
March 2020: Introduction of Emergency Support and Furlough Scheme
In March 2020, Rishi Sunak introduced a program providing £330 billion in emergency support for businesses, as well as the Coronavirus Job Retention furlough scheme for employees, providing grants to employers to pay 80% of a staff wage and employment costs each month, up to a total of £2,500 per person per month.
March 2020: First Budget
On 11 March 2020, Rishi Sunak presented his first budget, Delivering on Our Promises to the British People.
March 2020: Government's response to the pandemic
On 23 March 2020, as COVID-19 became a pandemic, Rishi Sunak became prominent in the government's response to the pandemic and its economic impact. Sunak gave a statement on COVID-19.
June 2020: Furlough Scheme Extension
In June 2020, Rishi Sunak extended the furlough scheme until the end of June 2020, following a three-week extension of the countrywide lockdown.
June 2020: Birthday gathering for Boris Johnson
On June 19, 2020, a birthday gathering for Boris Johnson took place, which Rishi Sunak attended, later resulting in a fixed penalty notice for breaching COVID-19 regulations in April 2022.
July 2020: Unveiling of Further Spending Plan
In July 2020, Rishi Sunak unveiled a plan for a further £30 billion of spending including a stamp duty holiday, a cut to value-added tax (VAT) for the hospitality sector, a job retention bonus for employers and the Eat Out to Help Out scheme.
July 2020: Summer Statement (Coronavirus Mini-Budget)
On 8 July 2020, Rishi Sunak delivered the July 2020 summer statement to announce measures aimed at helping to promote economic recovery following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Concerns were subsequently raised by organisations about the statement's impact and its cost-effectiveness.
September 2020: Highest satisfaction score of any British chancellor since 1978
In September 2020, Rishi Sunak achieved the highest satisfaction score of any British chancellor since Denis Healey in April 1978, according to an Ipsos MORI poll, also becoming a favorite to become the next Conservative leader.
September 2020: Autumn Budget Scrapped
In September 2020, Rishi Sunak announced that the autumn budget would be scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
September 2020: Winter Economy Plan
On 24 September 2020, Rishi Sunak delivered the Winter Economy Plan to promote economic recovery following the impact of COVID-19.
October 2020: Second Lockdown in England
After a second lockdown in England on 31 October 2020, the Winter Economy Plan was extended several times.
October 2020: Furlough Scheme Extended
At the end of May, Rishi Sunak extended the furlough scheme until the end of October 2020 to avoid mass redundancies.
November 2020: Sunak Reported for Undeclared Financial Interests
In November 2020, The Guardian reported that Rishi Sunak had not declared a significant amount of his wife and family's financial interests on the register of ministers' interests.
2020: Chancellor of the Exchequer
In 2020, Rishi Sunak was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer under Boris Johnson.
2020: Promotion to Chancellor of the Exchequer
In 2020, Rishi Sunak was promoted to Chancellor of the Exchequer.
2020: Eat Out to Help Out Scheme Controversy
In 2020, the "Eat Out to Help Out" scheme was not fully communicated with Patrick Vallance and Chris Whitty, and a study found that the scheme contributed to a rise in COVID-19 infection. It was also discussed whether medical advisers had been informed before the scheme was announced.
March 2021: Furlough Scheme Extended Again
In March 2021, Rishi Sunak announced that the furlough scheme had been extended once more until September 2021.
March 2021: March 2021 Budget
In his March 2021 budget, Rishi Sunak emphasized the effect the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the economy. The budget included an increase in the rate of corporation tax from 19% to 25% in 2023, and the extension of the furlough scheme until the end of September.
June 2021: G7 Summit Hosted
In June 2021, Rishi Sunak hosted a G7 summit in London. A tax reform agreement was signed, which sought to establish a global minimum tax on multinationals and online technology companies.
September 2021: End of Furlough Scheme
In March 2021, Rishi Sunak announced that the furlough scheme had been extended until September 2021.
September 2021: End of Winter Economy Plan
The Winter Economy Plan was extended several times until 30 September 2021.
October 2021: Third and Final Budget Statement
In October 2021, Rishi Sunak made his third and final budget statement, which included substantial spending promises related to science and education.
October 2021: OECD Accord
In October 2021, the OECD signed an accord to join the tax reform plan initiated at the G7 summit hosted by Sunak in June 2021.
2021: Public attitudes toward Sunak remained broadly positive
In 2021, public attitudes towards Rishi Sunak remained broadly positive, though his popularity declined steadily over time.
2021: Sunak held US green card status until 2021
Until 2021, Rishi Sunak held a United States' permanent resident (green card) status acquired in the 2000s, which required filing annual US tax returns, even after becoming chancellor.
March 2022: Spring Statement
On 23 March 2022, Rishi Sunak made his spring statement. He cut fuel duty, removed VAT on energy saving equipment and reduced national insurance payments for small businesses. He also promised a reduction in income tax in 2024.
April 2022: Sunak and Murty moved out of Downing Street flat
In April 2022, Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murty moved out of the flat above 10 Downing Street to a newly refurbished West London home for domestic reasons.
April 2022: Sunak issued fixed penalty notice for Partygate
In April 2022, amid the Partygate scandal, Rishi Sunak was issued a fixed penalty notice by the police for attending a birthday gathering for Boris Johnson on 19 June 2020 during COVID-19 restrictions.
May 2022: Response to Cost of Living Crisis
In May 2022, Rishi Sunak intensified efforts to respond to the rising cost of living and energy crises with a £5 billion windfall tax on energy companies to fund a £15 billion support package.
July 2022: Sunak's approval ratings slightly recovered after resignation
By the time Rishi Sunak resigned as chancellor in July 2022, his approval ratings had slightly recovered after a period of decline.
July 2022: Sunak Announces Leadership Candidacy
In July 2022, Rishi Sunak announced his candidacy for the leadership election to replace Johnson. He launched his campaign with pledges to restore trust, rebuild the economy, and reunite the country, emphasizing patriotism, fairness, and hard work. Sunak also outlined policy proposals including tax cuts when inflation is under control and a temporary fine for missed GP appointments.
July 2022: Resignation as Chancellor
In July 2022, Rishi Sunak resigned as Chancellor amid a government crisis.
October 2022: Sunak Loses Leadership Vote, Later Becomes Prime Minister
In October 2022, Liz Truss won the membership vote, becoming the new leader, while Sunak offered his support. Later that month, after Truss's resignation, Sunak declared his candidacy and secured enough supporters to run. Following Johnson's withdrawal and Mordaunt's withdrawal from the race, Sunak was announced as the new leader on October 24.
October 2022: Leader of the Conservative Party
In October 2022, Rishi Sunak became the Leader of the Conservative Party.
October 2022: Sunak's favourability increased after becoming prime minister
In October 2022, following his appointment as prime minister, Rishi Sunak's personal favourability ratings experienced an increase.
October 2022: Sunaks resumed residence of their former official home
In October 2022, the Sunaks resumed residence of their former official home at 10 Downing Street, with Rishi Sunak now serving as prime minister.
October 2022: Sunak Appointed Prime Minister
On October 25, 2022, Rishi Sunak was appointed as Prime Minister by Charles III, becoming the first British Asian to hold the office. At 42, he became the youngest prime minister since 1812. In his first speech, Sunak acknowledged Truss's ambition for growth but admitted mistakes were made and that he was elected to fix them.
December 2022: Forsyth appointed as Sunak's political secretary
In December 2022, Rishi Sunak appointed James Forsyth, The Spectator's former political editor and a close friend since their school days, as his political secretary.
2022: Record High Net Migration
In 2022, long-term net migration to the United Kingdom reached a record high of 764,000. Legal immigration stood at 1.26 million, while emigration was at 493,000.
2022: Murty's non-domiciled status reported
In early 2022, newspapers reported that Akshata Murty had non-domiciled status, allowing her to avoid paying UK taxes on income earned abroad, leading to public scrutiny and debate.
January 2023: Sunak issued fixed penalty notice for seat belt violation
In January 2023, Rishi Sunak was issued a fixed penalty notice by Lancashire Constabulary after a social media video showed him failing to wear a seat belt in a moving vehicle.
February 2023: Sunak's First Cabinet Reshuffle
In February 2023, Sunak conducted his first cabinet reshuffle, restructuring government departments and creating new ones such as the Department for Business and Trade and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Greg Hands replaced Nadhim Zahawi as chairman.
February 2023: Negotiated Windsor Framework
In February 2023, Sunak negotiated a proposed agreement with the EU on Northern Ireland's trading arrangements, published as the Windsor Framework. On 27 February, Sunak said that the proposed agreement "protects Northern Ireland's place in our Union."
April 2023: Dowden Replaces Raab as Deputy Prime Minister
In April 2023, Oliver Dowden replaced Dominic Raab as Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary. This occurred after Sunak selected his initial cabinet ministers upon becoming Prime Minister.
April 2023: Sunak's perception as a centrist challenged
In April 2023, Rishi Sunak's perception as a centrist was contrasted with his government's policies on transgender and migration issues, which were described as socially conservative, leading to debates about his true political leaning.
May 2023: Conservatives Suffer Heavy Losses in Local Elections
In May 2023, Sunak contested his first local elections as leader, where the Conservatives suffered heavy losses, reflecting the challenge of rebuilding the party's reputation after previous controversies.
June 2023: Rwanda Asylum Plan Blocked
In June 2023, the UK's Court of Appeal blocked Sunak's Rwanda asylum plan, citing concerns over international law and the possibility of refoulement. Sunak vowed to appeal the verdict to the Supreme Court.
July 2023: Sunak's approval ratings decreased back to similar level
By July 2023, Rishi Sunak's approval ratings had decreased back to a similar level to when he resigned as chancellor.
July 2023: Sunak described as most right-wing PM since Thatcher
In July 2023, The Economist described Rishi Sunak as "the most right-wing Conservative prime minister since Margaret Thatcher", highlighting a shift in perception of his political stance.
July 2023: Conservatives Lose Seats in By-Elections
In July 2023, the Conservatives lost two seats in by-elections, one to Labour and one to the Liberal Democrats, highlighting ongoing challenges in maintaining political support.
November 2023: Sunak's Last Cabinet Reshuffle
In November 2023, Sunak performed his last cabinet reshuffle, which included the return of David Cameron as foreign secretary, the departures of Braverman and Coffey from government, and the appointment of Laura Trott as Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
November 2023: Supreme Court Ruling Against Rwanda Plan
On November 15, 2023, the Supreme Court upheld the ruling against the Rwanda asylum plan. In response, Sunak sent Cleverly to Rwanda to negotiate a treaty focused on preventing refoulement and introduced the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill.
December 2023: Government Majority Secured for Safety of Rwanda Bill
On December 12, 2023, Sunak secured a government majority of 44 for the Safety of Rwanda Bill, despite opposition from other parties and abstentions within his own.
2023: Shift in Immigration Priorities
In 2023, Sunak shifted the priority from reducing legal immigration to stopping illegal immigration, despite nearly 30,000 undocumented migrants crossing the Channel in small boats to the UK. Long-term net migration reached a record high of 764,000 in 2022.
2023: Poor Performance in Local Elections
In 2023, the Conservative Party had poor performances in the local elections.
2023: Theleme Partners equivalent value in 2023
In October 2010, Rishi Sunak launched Theleme Partners, a new hedge fund firm, with former colleagues with $700 million under management (equivalent to $978 million in 2023)
2023: Corporation Tax Increase
In his March 2021 budget, Sunak emphasized the effect the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the economy, with a corporation tax increase from 19% to 25% planned for 2023.
January 2024: Sunak Visits Ukraine, Signs Security Agreement
On January 12, 2024, Sunak visited Ukraine and signed a new U.K.-Ukraine Agreement on Security Cooperation with Zelenskyy, promising £2.5 billion in military aid, including drones, making the UK the largest deliverer of drones to Ukraine out of any nation.
February 2024: Conservatives Lose Further Seats in By-Elections
In February 2024, the Conservatives lost two further seats in by-elections, indicating continued struggles with public support despite policy changes.
March 2024: Speculation of Leadership Challenge
In March 2024, there were suggestions that Sunak could face a leadership challenge before the upcoming general election, particularly if the Conservatives performed poorly in the local elections on May 2nd. Sunak stated he would resist such a challenge.
May 2024: Sunak Calls General Election for July 4
On May 22, 2024, Sunak announced that he had asked the King to call a general election for July 4, 2024. Sunak cited improvements in the economy as the reason for calling the election.
June 2024: Sunak Campaigns on Economy, Rwanda Plan, and National Service
In June 2024, Sunak campaigned to rebuild the Conservative's reputation, focusing on stabilizing the economy and introducing National Service. He released the Conservative manifesto Clear Plan. Bold Action. Secure Future. during the general election.
July 2024: Sunak had his lowest approval ratings to date
By his resignation as prime minister in July 2024, Rishi Sunak had his lowest approval ratings to date.
July 2024: Conservative Party lost election
In July 2024, the Conservative Party, led by Rishi Sunak, lost the general election to the Labour Party.
July 2024: General Election Called
On May 22, 2024, Sunak announced that he had asked the King to call a general election for July 4, 2024. Sunak cited improvements in the economy as the reason for calling the election.
November 2024: End of Premiership and Leadership
In November 2024, Rishi Sunak's time as Prime Minister and Leader of the Conservative Party ended.
December 2024: Option to Call General Election
On May 22, 2024, Sunak announced that he had asked the King to call a general election for July 4, 2024, even though he had the option to wait until December 2024 to call the election.
2024: Sunak discusses his childhood
During the 2024 general election campaign, Rishi Sunak spoke about his childhood, emphasizing his parents' prioritization of education and their decision not to have Sky TV.
2024: Sunak Returns to Backbenches
In 2024, Sunak remained leader until his successor, Kemi Badenoch, was elected in the 2024 Conservative Party leadership election, after which he returned to the backbenches.
2024: Won seat of Richmond and Northallerton
In 2024, following boundary changes, Rishi Sunak won the seat of Richmond and Northallerton with a majority of 23,059 (51.4%).
2024: Sunak's Shadow Cabinet
In 2024, most members of Sunak's cabinet were given the same portfolios in the shadow cabinet.
2024: Income Tax Reduction Promised
In March 2022, Rishi Sunak made his spring statement. He promised a reduction in income tax in 2024.
January 2025: Visiting Fellow at Hoover Institution
In January 2025, Rishi Sunak became a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University and signed as an exclusive speaker with the Washington Speakers Bureau.
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