Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has opened up about his personal faith, saying he often looks for spiritual guidance at times of difficulty.  

Speaking to Premier, the Conservative Party leader, who is a practicing Hindu, said his faith offers him "solace, comfort and inspiration".

"Faith is a deeply important part of my life," Sunak told Premier.

"As a practising Hindu, I often seek solace, comfort and inspiration from my faith, especially during the challenging moments that come as part of this job.

"Indeed, my upbringing, shaped by my faith and my wonderful parents, taught me always to do my duty and not fret about the outcome as long as I conduct myself faithfully.

"This principle, known as ‘Dharma’ in my faith, guides my approach to public service and how I live my life. It’s a lesson that I hope to pass on to my daughters."

Mr Sunak also addressed some of the issues that are important to many Christians, including the protection of religious freedom.

"I consider freedom of expression and religion as fundamental rights that must be protected and preserved," he said.

When asked specifically about the instances of Christians being arrested for praying outside abortion clinics, and the issues surrounding the monitoring of private prayer for those with unwanted same-sex attraction, Mr Sunak said he understood the concerns and vowed to ensure legal protections for all when it comes to expressions of faith. 

"It is unacceptable for anyone to face persecution or discrimination for practicing their faith," he said. "We will uphold these rights rigorously, ensuring that Christians and all faith communities can practice their beliefs freely."

'I Disagree With Him'

Mr Sunak's immigration policies have been met with criticism from many in the church, including Archbishop Justin Welby, who said the Rwanda deportation scheme was "morally unacceptable".

"I respect Archbishop Welby’s views," Sunak said, "but I disagree with him."

"Our policy on immigration is designed to uphold the rule of law and ensure fairness to the people of this country. Let’s start from first principles. This country is incredibly welcoming, inclusive and tolerant."

He continued: "Just look at my story. My grandparents came to these shores with little more than ambition, resilience, and determination. Here I am, just two generations later, as your Prime Minister.

"I don't think this would be possible in any other country in the world, which speaks volumes about our warmth and openness towards newcomers."

Mr Sunak went on to say that people "rightly want to know that the system is fair and that their government, not criminal gangs, decide who gets to come here".

Speaking to the issue of intergrity in the Conservative Party in light o the bettting scandal, Mr Sunak insisted that intergrity was "enormously important" to him.

"When issues have arisen in my party, I have taken decisive action," he said.

"I was incredibly angry when I found out about people betting and if anyone is found to have acted improperly, they should face the full force of the law and will be booted out of my party."

He added: "I would ask voters to judge me on my commitment to integrity and contrast it with the record of my opponent, Keir Starmer. This is a man who backed Jeremy Corbyn in two elections and said he would make a ‘great Prime Minister’ despite leading an institutionally antisemitic party.

"Keir Starmer now disavows Jeremy Corbyn, as he disavows countless policies and positions which he supported only a couple of years ago, because it's no longer convenient for him to do so. 

"Contrast that with my record of being upfront and honest with people even when it’s tough because I know it to be the right thing to do. To me, that is integrity."

Mr Sunak concluded by saying he valued the Church's "long-standing role in society and respect its views and right to express them directly".

"I welcome dialogue with its leaders and community members," he added.

"It's through open discussion and honest debate that we make progress, and I will always champion that."

To read the full Q&A with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, click here.