David Lammy Highlights Kolkata Ancestry, Shares Light Moment on Rishi Sunak

UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy invoked his Indian ancestry and shared a light-hearted moment with former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during a public discussion in New Delhi.

Speaking at the British High Commission, Lammy introduced Sunak by saying he was “not just a great son of the United Kingdom, he is also a great son of India.” Sunak promptly corrected him with a smile — “Son-in-law” — drawing laughter from the audience. Lammy echoed the remark, keeping the mood jovial.

Highlighting his own connection to India, Lammy said his great-grandmother on his mother’s side was from Kolkata (then Calcutta), underlining a personal link to the country. He described the shared heritage as a meaningful bridge between the UK and India.

Lammy also spoke about his long-standing friendship with Sunak, noting that despite being on opposite sides of the political aisle in Britain, they have worked together constructively. He pointed to their collaboration on prostate cancer awareness and advocacy as an example of cross-party cooperation that transcends politics.

AI Diplomacy and India’s Role

The conversation later shifted to artificial intelligence and global collaboration. Lammy referred to Sunak’s decision to convene the first global AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park, asking what prompted him to elevate AI as a global priority and how he assesses its trajectory today.

Earlier, while addressing the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, Sunak said there was “no better place than India” to discuss the AI transformation, citing the country’s digital public infrastructure and innovation ecosystem. He praised platforms such as Aadhaar and UPI, saying the India Stack model has shown how technology can positively transform everyday life at scale.

The exchange blended humour with diplomacy, highlighting personal ties, bipartisan cooperation and a shared focus on emerging technologies shaping the future.