Who is Rishi Sunak?

A new leader for the U.K. … again

Rishi Sunak.
(Image credit: Illustrated | Getty Images)

Rishi Sunak is going to be the next prime minister of the United Kingdom, following the blink-and-you'll-miss-it prime ministership of Liz Truss. Penny Mordaunt, Sunak's last remaining rival to lead the Conservative Party, withdrew from the race on Monday — a day after former Prime Minister Boris Johnson did the same.

Sunak's rise to 10 Downing Street is historic: He'll be the first person of color to lead the United Kingdom. He is of Indian descent, and "grew up in the English port city of Southampton to immigrant parents who were born in East Africa," the Los Angeles Times notes. But there will be precious little time to bask in the accomplishment. "Inflation is at its highest in 40 years as the nation stares out at a dark winter of soaring energy costs," and the kingdom still hasn't found its footing after Brexit.

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Joel Mathis, The Week US

Joel Mathis is a freelance writer who has spent nine years as a syndicated columnist, co-writing the RedBlueAmerica column as the liberal half of a point-counterpoint duo. His work also regularly appears in National Geographic, The Kansas City Star and Heatmap News. His awards include best online commentary at the Online News Association and (twice) at the City and Regional Magazine Association.