The Spectator

Who was Britain’s youngest prime minister?

[Getty Images] 
issue 29 October 2022

Prime numbers

At 42, Rishi Sunak is Britain’s youngest PM since Lord Liverpool took office the day after his 42nd birthday in June 1812. He replaced Spencer Perceval, the only British prime minister to be assassinated. Much is made of Sunak’s wealth, but he hasn’t enjoyed the privilege Lord Liverpool did (his father was an adviser to George III). Thanks in part to his connections, Lord Liverpool was elected to the Commons as member for Rye at the age of just 20. As he had to be 21 to sit in the Commons, he went on a Grand Tour of Europe until he came of age. He was PM for 15 uninterrupted years.

Asian heritage

How large is the Asian British population?

– According to the ONS, there are 4.2m people in England and Wales – 7.5% of the population – who define themselves as having Asian heritage. Of these, 1.4m (2.5%) define themselves as of Indian heritage.

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