London: The United Kingdom’s new Prime Minister Boris Johnson appointed Brexit supporter Priti Patel home secretary, news agencies reported.
The other ministers of South Asian descent in the Johnson Cabinet are Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid, International Development Secretary Alok Sharma and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Rishi Sunak.
Patel, who was born to Indian parents, had resigned as the international development minister in 2017 for holding undisclosed meetings with Israeli officials, Scroll.com said.
She was believed to have met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, other senior political figures, businessmen and lobbyists while on a holiday with her family in August 2017, and failed to properly disclose everything about the meetings to Johnson’s predecessor Theresa May. In 2016, Patel had campaigned to leave the European Union, Reuters reported. She has also been an outspoken critic of Theresa May’s approach to Brexit.
On the other hand, Rishi Sunak is the son-in-law of Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy. The 39-year-old has been the MP for Richmond, Yorkshire, since 2015, news reports said.
Alok Sharma was born in Agra and has been the MP for Reading West since 2010. He was the employment minister in Theresa May’s government and a supporter of Johnson in the recent election. He will now be responsible for overseas British aid. He has held various junior ministerial roles and had campaigned to remain in the referendum.
Sajid Javid was born in the UK to parents who had immigrated from Pakistan. He is Britain’s first ethnic minority finance minister. He will be responsible for managing the economy when it leaves the European Union, and protecting London’s place in the financial world.