London (Parliament News) – Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has expressed the next five years will be “some of the most difficult yet” – but refused to specify a date for a general election.
The Prime Minister said voters would front a choice between “the future and the past” at the general election and urged he was “confident” the Tories could defeat Labour. “It is only us, it is only me, that has the bold ideas and the clear plan that will deliver a secure future for the country,” he briefed Sky News following a speech in London.
Is Rishi Sunak Setting the Stage for an Election?
He refused to say when he would call an election, instead stating it would be “at some point in the second half of this year”. In a wide-ranging speech that seemed to be a soft launch of his election campaign, Mr Sunak sought to place himself as the best option to navigate a dangerous period, adding that the fighting in Ukraine “has taken us closer to a dangerous nuclear escalation than at any point since the Cuban missile crisis”.
The PM declared Sir Keir Starmer could not keep the nation safe because he once supported Jeremy Corbyn to be Labour leader and Sir Keir had not dedicated to increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP.
How Confident is Sunak About Election Victory?
Mr Sunak stated he remained “confident” his party could win the general election despite polls persisting to suggest the Tories are on course to lose. He acknowledged “we haven’t got everything right” over the past 14 years his party has been in control but said Labour “have almost nothing to say” about what they would do on most problems. “No plans for our border, no plans for our energy security, no plans for our economy either,” he said.
Mr Sunak stated Sir Keir had “no principles either” and had gone from “embracing Jeremy Corbyn to Natalie Elphicke” – the Tory MP who defected to Labour – “all in the cynical pursuit of power. At any price”. He argued Labour “have no ideas” and acts “like a pressure group, not of would-be government”.
Is Labour’s Security Record Under Scrutiny by Sunak?
Questioned if he believed the country would be less secure under a Starmer leadership and if this was the beginning of an idea that says “be careful what you wish for. Better the devil you know”, Mr Sunak replied: “In a word, yes.”
The PM stated he could be relied on to make tough decisions on the economy and defence, and he would push the UK a world leader in AI and technological advances.
Focusing on defence and technology, he stated: “I feel a profound sense of urgency because more will change in the next five years than in the last 30. “I’m convinced that the next few years will be some of the most dangerous yet the most transformational that our country has ever known.” Mr Sunak stated the UK needs to be “prepared strategically, economically, with concentrated plans and greater national resilience”.
What Urges Lib Dem Leader to Call for Election?
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey expressed Mr Sunak should call a general election.
He said: “Families are sick of the Conservatives failing our NHS, allowing water companies to pump their sewage into our rivers and declining to help families through the cost of living crisis.
This Conservative administration is out of touch and out of time and Rishi Sunak must do the right thing and give the people a general election.”