Chancellor Rishi Sunak has launched a preemptive strike, framing the looming general election as a decisive choice between the Conservatives’ long-term plan and a perilous journey “back to square one” under Labour leadership. As anticipation builds for a contest expected in the latter half of the year, Sunak intensified his critique of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, accusing him of lacking a comprehensive vision for the nation on critical issues such as welfare and illegal migration.
Addressing voters in Accrington, Lancashire, Sunak set the stage for a potentially acrimonious campaign by asserting, “The alternative is Keir Starmer, who would just take us back to square one.” He further added, “He has been Leader of the Opposition for four years now, and in that time, he hasn’t said what he would do differently. That’s because he doesn’t have a plan. He just snipes from the sidelines instead.”
In a recent interaction with voters at a PM Connect event, Sunak fielded questions, reinforcing the notion that an election is a strong possibility in the second half of the year. As Members of Parliament reconvene after the Christmas break, the Prime Minister faces additional challenges with the departure of Chris Skidmore, the former net zero tsar, from Parliament, citing dissatisfaction with the government’s environmental stance. This departure sets the stage for another potentially difficult by-election in Skidmore’s Kingswood seat.
Sunak seized the opportunity to draw distinct lines between the Conservatives and Labour, emphasizing, “You might have heard that later this year there’s going to be an election. Now the choice facing our country at that election is do we stick with the plan that is starting to deliver the long-term change that our country needs, or do we go back to square one?”
He continued to critique Starmer, highlighting perceived weaknesses in Labour’s strategy: “He can’t tell you how he’s going to stop the boats because he doesn’t have a plan to do that. He can’t tell you how he’s going to control welfare because he doesn’t have a plan. He can’t tell you how he’s going to fund his £28 billion-a-year spending spree because he doesn’t have a plan to pay for it.”
Sunak’s New Year message to voters underscores a commitment to continuity, a shift from his earlier positioning as a change candidate during his first Tory conference speech. While the Chancellor met his target of halving inflation by the end of 2023, other key commitments, such as reducing NHS waiting lists and stemming the flow of migrant boats, remain outstanding.
As the political landscape heats up, emergency legislation designed to facilitate deportation flights to Rwanda, a linchpin of Sunak’s immigration policy, is set to return to the Commons this month. The Safety of Rwanda Bill aims to overcome legal hurdles and reinforce the government’s commitment to curbing Channel crossings.
The Tories have also intensified their scrutiny of Labour’s promise to invest £28 billion annually until 2030 in green projects, aiming to portray it as financially unsustainable. As the stage is set for a high-stakes election year, Sunak’s challenge is not only to secure his party’s re-election but also to deliver on the ambitious pledges made to the electorate just twelve months ago.
