The political crisis in the UK will put a lot of ongoing engagements and negotiations in limbo. With Boris Johnson relegated to a caretaker Prime Minister, consider the government lame duck till the party does not elect a new leadership to head the country. Until then, all policy decisions will remain on hold.

“It is clearly the will of the parliamentary Conservative party that there should be a new leader of that party, and therefore a new prime minister,” said Johnson outside 10 Downing Street on Thursday.

The will of the party. That is the operative part. Not the will of the people or the opposition benches. Boris Johnson was ousted by his own party. So, the very same party will set the timeline and the process for a Tory leadership race which will be announced next week.

Is Britain ready for a non-Christian of Indian descent?

For now, the front runners for the Prime Minister’s position are former Finance Secretary Rishi Sunak, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, and even Home Secretary Priti Patel has made a pitch.

But is the UK prepared to accept a leader of colour, of a different race, of a non-Christian faith? The country does have an opportunity to present itself as one that goes beyond the set criteria of the past and carve out a new path.