Is rise of South Asians, Rishi Sunak and Humza Yousaf in UK politics because of increasing diversity or more wealth?

Three of the UK’s most prominent politicians – PM Rishi Sunak, First Minister Humza Yousaf, and Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar – all have South Asian roots

The other similarities between the trio is that all come from well-off families, and are graduates of prestigious private schools

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Humza Yousaf is the first leader of Scotland or Pakistani-origin. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 5:00pm, 6 Apr 2023Updated: 5:28pm, 6 Apr 2023

When Scottish National Party (SNP) leader Humza Yousaf was sworn in as first minister last week, Twitter responded with wisecracks and memes about how the son of Pakistani immigrants would negotiate the partition of Britain with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the son of Indian immigrants.

But the ironic references to the 1947 split of British India into India, Pakistan and subsequently Bangladesh, were both premature and inaccurate.

While campaigning to become SNP leader, Yousaf distanced himself from attempts by his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon to frame voting in Scotland during the next British general election as a de facto referendum on independence.

Instead, he pledged to focus on building a strong, sustainable majority for the SNP before lobbying London for a second independence vote.

This means Yousaf will initially focus his politics on undermining the popular appeal of the Scottish Labour Party – which is led by Anas Sarwar, who shares Yousaf’s Pakistani roots.

Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), Humza Yousaf, is sworn in as Scotland’s First Minister on March 29. Photo: AFP

Both are from well-off families, and graduates of the prestigious private Hutcheson’s Grammar School in Glasgow, mirroring Sunak’s education at the elite Winchester public school in England.

Is rise of South Asians, Rishi Sunak and Humza Yousaf in UK politics because of increasing diversity or more wealth?

Three of the UK’s most prominent politicians – PM Rishi Sunak, First Minister Humza Yousaf, and Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar – all have South Asian roots The other similarities between the trio is that all come from well-off families, and are graduates of prestigious private schools

Three of the UK’s most prominent politicians – PM Rishi Sunak, First Minister Humza Yousaf, and Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar – all have South Asian roots

The other similarities between the trio is that all come from well-off families, and are graduates of prestigious private schools