Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Sunak denies claims of moving to California

‘I’m committed to staying in the UK for years to come’

Sunak denies claims of moving to California

RISHI SUNAK was on Tuesday (28) forced to counter stinging criticism from a Tory peer that the prime minister was planning to “disappear” to California after damaging the party “beyond repair”, saying the UK was his home and he has no plans to relocate his family to the US after the general election on July 4.

The British Indian leader told voters on the campaign trail in Amersham, south-east England, that he was surprised at Lord Zac Goldsmith’s comments posted on social media this week as he had not spoken to the former Foreign Office minister for a long time.


The 44-year-old father of two school-going daughters, Krishna and Anoushka, said he had no intention of pulling them out of their schools in the UK and relocating.

“I’m surprised that Lord Goldsmith, who I don’t think I’ve spoken to in a very long time, seems to have some sort of intimate knowledge of my family’s arrangements,” Sunak told a group of Tory supporters.

Asked about the prospect of relocating to the US, the UK-born MP for Richmond in North Yorkshire, said: “Of course not, my kids are at school, this is my home and as I said earlier my football team [Southampton FC] just got promoted to the Premier League so I intend to spend many more happy days watching them at St Mary’s [Stadium].

“Of course that’s what I’m going to do. I was born and brought up in Southampton, I was raised with a very strong ethic of service to one’s community, that’s what I believe, that’s what I’ve always done.”

His remarks came a day after Goldsmith, the brother of Jemima Khan and a staunch supporter of former prime minister Boris Johnson, took to X to react to a post by a ‘Times’ newspaper journalist about there being a “lot of bad blood” among Tory MPs, including Cabinet ministers, about Sunak’s “unilateral decision to call an early election” ahead of an expected autumn poll in October-November.

“I understand the anger towards Sunak who has damaged the Party almost beyond repair and all but guaranteed the majority of his MPs will lose their job next month,” reacted Lord Goldsmith.

“But it’s hard to muster much sympathy given that none of this would have happened without the complicity of a majority of the Party and what is now unfolding was entirely predictable- indeed predicted. The hope is that when Sunak disappears off to California in a few weeks there are at least some decent MPs left around which to rebuild,” he added, with crossed finger emojis.

It follows speculation over the wealthy Sunak family, including wife Akshata Murty’s Infosys millions, returning to the US where they first met while studying at Stanford University.

“Gosh, I love being an MP. Yes, of course I’m staying. I love being an MP, I love my constituents, I love my home in North Yorkshire – it’s wonderful,” Sunak told the ‘Loose Women’ television show earlier this month when confronted with the same relocation query.

Meanwhile, there seems to be growing disquiet within the Tory party ranks following a mass exodus by several MPs and other incumbent members of Parliament fearful of losing their seats amid pre-election surveys pointing to a definitive lead for the opposition Labour party.

(PTI)

More For You

Pakistan rejects claim of China’s role in border clash

Asim Munir

Pakistan rejects claim of China’s role in border clash

PAKISTAN’S army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir on Monday (7) rejected Delhi’s allegation that his military received active support from longtime ally China in its conflict with India in May.

The Indian Army’s deputy chief, Lieutenant General Rahul Singh, said last week that China gave Islamabad “live inputs” on key Indian positions.

Keep ReadingShow less
Modi courts Latin nations to expand trade relations

Christine Kangaloo awards Narendra Modi with the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago last Friday (4)

Modi courts Latin nations to expand trade relations

INDIA’S prime minister, Narendra Modi met Argentine president Javier Milei in Buenos Aires last Saturday (5), urging the expansion of New Delhi’s preferential trade deal with South America’s Mercosur bloc.

The bilateral talks with Milei were the latest in Modi’s whistle-stop diplomatic tour culminating in the summit of Brics emerging economies which began last Sunday (6) in Brazil.

Keep ReadingShow less
Minister 'open to talks' on British Sikh regiment

Lord Coaker (Photo: UK Parliament)

Minister 'open to talks' on British Sikh regiment

A FRESH parliamentary initiative to establish a dedicated Sikh regiment within the British Army has gained momentum in the House of Lords, with defence minister Lord Coaker expressing willingness to engage in further discussions about the long-debated proposal.

The issue was raised in the House of Lords on Monday (7) by Labour peer Lord Sahota, who asked whether there had been any progress on long-standing calls for a Sikh regiment.

Keep ReadingShow less
Heatwave Alert: Don’t Leave Contraceptives or Medication in Cars

Heat can also damage everyday items like sunglasses, suncream and vape devices

iStock

Drivers warned to remove contraceptives and medication from cars during UK heatwave

Highlights:

  • Experts urge motorists to avoid leaving certain items in vehicles during upcoming heatwave
  • Temperatures expected to rise above 30°C across large parts of the UK
  • Contraceptives and common medications can lose effectiveness in high heat
  • Heat can also damage everyday items like sunglasses, suncream and vape devices

Drivers urged to act as UK braces for extended heatwave

Drivers across the UK are being urged to remove a range of everyday items from their cars ahead of a predicted heatwave, with experts warning that the rising temperatures could pose both safety and health risks.

The Met Office has forecast a prolonged spell of hot weather, with temperatures expected to soar into the low 30s on Thursday and Friday. Much of the UK is likely to hit its regional heatwave threshold by the weekend, with this episode potentially affecting a wider area and lasting longer than previous hot spells.

Keep ReadingShow less
Royal Mail

The Royal Mail logo is seen on the side of a van as the UK government clear a 3.57 billion pound takeover offer by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky in London, December 16, 2024. (Photo: Reuters)

Reuters

Ofcom updates Royal Mail delivery targets, starts pricing review

MEDIA regulator Ofcom has set new minimum delivery standards for Royal Mail and revised existing targets in an effort to reduce delays. It also announced a review into pricing and affordability, amid concerns over rising stamp prices.

Royal Mail, which has faced fines of around $20 million over the past two years for not meeting delivery targets, is currently trying to modernise operations and focus more on parcel deliveries.

Keep ReadingShow less