UK's Sunak ditches usual taunts and jokes in his first budget

By William James

LONDON, March 11 (Reuters) - British finance minister Rishi Sunak adopted a serious tone in his first budget announcement on Wednesday, ditching the puns, jokes and taunting preferred by his predecessors in favour of a mix of warnings and reassurances over coronavirus.

Sunak, a 39-year old former Goldman Sachs banker, became finance minister in chaotic circumstances last month when predecessor Sajid Javid unexpectedly resigned over a demand by Prime Minister Boris Johnson that he sack his team of advisors.

That thrust Sunak, who backed Brexit, into Britain's second highest political office at a time of heightened uncertainty over the country's future relationship with the European Union and a burgeoning global crisis over the impact of coronavirus.

On Wednesday, he stood up in parliament to warn of a significant but temporary impact on the British economy.

"I know how worried people are, worried about their health, the health of their loved ones, their jobs, their income, their businesses, their financial security," he told lawmakers.

"And I know they get even more worried when they turn on their TVs and hear talk of markets collapsing and difficult times coming.

"What everyone needs to know is that we are doing everything we can to keep this country and our people healthy and financially secure."

Born in England to Indian parents - a doctor and a pharmacist - Sunak is married to the daughter of an Indian billionaire, co-founder of IT services company Infosys, Narayana Murthy.

Since being elected to parliament in 2015 he has risen rapidly through the ranks of the Conservative party, and is seen by senior figures as someone who is highly trusted by Johnson.

Usually a smiling, energetic media performer, Sunak was grave as he appealed for cross-party unity to tackle the epidemic and its fallout.

That contrasts to the triumphant tone of most recent budgets delivered by the Conservatives.

Lawmakers from his own party kept their cheering muted, and Sunak resisted the temptation to litter the opening of his speech with partisan rhetoric and jokes at the expense of the opposition Labour Party.

"This house (parliament) has always stood ready to come together, put aside party politics and act in the national interest," he said. "We have done so before. And I know we will do so again." (Editing by Stephen Addison)