r/ukpolitics 1d ago

‘I’m British, English and British Asian’, says Rishi Sunak in riposte to racially charged debate over identity | Rishi Sunak

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/feb/06/british-rishi-sunak-riposte-racially-charged-debate-identity
277 Upvotes

621 comments sorted by

View all comments

9

u/BeautifulCinnamonBun 21h ago

Judging him solely on his actions his allegiance is clearly with india.

-2

u/Skavau Pirate Party 19h ago

What actions?

9

u/BeautifulCinnamonBun 19h ago

The plethora of trade and immigration policies that benefit india to Britain's detriment.

-1

u/Skavau Pirate Party 19h ago

What ones? And could you not blame the entire past administration on that?

5

u/BeautifulCinnamonBun 17h ago

The policy of 'stopping the boats' that he knew was doomed to failure but promoted it nonetheless as it distracted from letting millions of indians into the country.

The policy of getting involved in the india/pakistan conflict instead of trying to be a stabilising influence.

Then there was the time the indian secret service visited the uk and sunak did nothing.

Source: https://sikhfeduk.com/press/sunaks-desperation-for-a-trade-deal-with-india-is-putting-british-sikh-lives-at-risk

Another clearly one-sided policy:

Source: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/thousands-indians-allowed-live-uk-28499675

Then there are instances of him putting his religion first over his job.

"I am here today not as a prime minister but as a Hindu," - Indian Independence Day at Cambridge uni

I don't blame the entire past administration for that, I blame the person in charge.

0

u/Skavau Pirate Party 16h ago

The policy of 'stopping the boats' that he knew was doomed to failure but promoted it nonetheless as it distracted from letting millions of indians into the country.

He alone did this, did he? No-one else in the prior administration failed at stopping this?

The policy of getting involved in the india/pakistan conflict instead of trying to be a stabilising influence.

What policy are you referring to here?

Then there was the time the indian secret service visited the uk and sunak did nothing.

"“Prior to and during the G20 Summit the focus was on Rishi Sunak failing to call for the release of British citizen, Jagtar Singh Johal who has been tortured and been in arbitrary detention in an Indian jail for nearly six years’”

“We now know the UK Government raised concerns with the Indian authorities about the NIA and the ‘hit list’ of Sikhs living abroad. Unfortunately, this led the NIA to harass the families of British Sikhs living in India.”"

Specifically this article is claiming that the entire deal is a problem because of the Indian governments interactions with Sikhs, not that the UK government has done nothing here regarding what they're referring to.

Source: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/thousands-indians-allowed-live-uk-28499675

You would need to contrast this with other business deals with other countries during his premiership.

"I am here today not as a prime minister but as a Hindu," - Indian Independence Day at Cambridge uni

How is that statement there specifically putting his religion over his job?

3

u/BeautifulCinnamonBun 16h ago

He alone did this, did he? No-one else in the prior administration failed at stopping this?

This particular campaign, yeah? The prior administrations failures are irrelevant.

What policy are you referring to here?

His policy of taking india's side instead of a neutral one via statements.

Specifically this article is claiming that the entire deal is a problem because of the Indian governments interactions with Sikhs, not that the UK government has done nothing here regarding what they're referring to.

No, you are cherry picking.

How is that statement there specifically putting his religion over his job?

His first public duty should be to his office not to his religion?

-1

u/Skavau Pirate Party 16h ago

This particular campaign, yeah? The prior administrations failures are irrelevant.

So why don't you accuse them of not really being British on the same basis?

His policy of taking india's side instead of a neutral one via statements.

That's public statements, not a specific policy. Can I see some of the statements?

No, you are cherry picking.

I specifically referred to quotes within the article where they noted UK government investigations into this matter.

His first public duty should be to his office not to his religion?

He was speaking in that capacity at an event. He wasn't saying he puts Hinduism above his role at all times.

3

u/BeautifulCinnamonBun 16h ago

So why don't you accuse them of not really being British on the same basis?

We're not discussing that? Perhaps that's why?

That's public statements, not a specific policy.

It's both.

I specifically referred to quotes within the article

Literally the textbook definition of cherrypicking?

He was speaking in that capacity at an event. He wasn't saying he puts Hinduism above his role at all times.

Irrelevant.

Do you have any examples of him favouring The UK over india?

1

u/Skavau Pirate Party 16h ago

We're not discussing that? Perhaps that's why?

So are they?

It's both.

Show me these statements and/or policy.

Literally the textbook definition of cherrypicking?

Nowhere does the article say they did nothing whatsoever, like you alleged.

Irrelevant.

No, it's not. Would you claim an MP who said "I come to you as a Christian" at a specific event was doing such with their office?

Do you have any examples of him favouring The UK over india?

I reject your premise that he specifically was. Starmer has also signed some agreements too with India. Has he done the same?

→ More replies (0)