Rishi Sunak: General election ‘not what the country wants’

Published

2 years ago

October 3, 2023

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Rishi Sunak has claimed a general election is “not what the country wants”, despite insisting he is unafraid of going to the polls.

Sky News’s political editor Beth Rigby put it to the prime minister that he was a “man without a mandate” – having lost the Tory leadership election last year, before being appointed weeks later without a vote from members.

But Mr Sunak said he was “just getting on” with the job and “delivering” on long-term policy plans.

And when asked if he would still be prime minister after the next election, he replied: “Of course”.

Politics live: Downing Street has ‘lost control’ of HS2 announcement

Speaking during the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, the prime minister also refused to admit if a decision had been taken over scrapping the northern leg of HS2 – despite Downing Street dropping heavy hints an announcement could come in his conference speech on Wednesday.

The Conservatives were re-elected back in 2019 when Boris Johnson was at the helm, securing an 80-seat majority to give him power over parliament.

After his downfall last year, the summer was spent on a leadership election, with Liz Truss winning the support of Tory members come September 2022.

But when she was ousted after just 49 days in office, Mr Sunak was only selected by some of his party’s MPs, leading to accusations on the backbenches that it was “undemocratic” and a “coronation”.

Asked by Beth Rigby why he wasn’t putting his plans to the country in a general election to secure a mandate, the prime minister replied: “Because that’s not what the country wants.”

He added: “I go out [and] about every day. That’s not what anybody wants. What people want is politicians making a difference to their lives.”

Pushed on whether he was scared of an election after months of falling behind in the polls, Mr Sunak said: “Not at all, I am just getting on and delivering for people.

“You can see that with net zero. You can see it with the number of boat crossings down this year by a fifth. You can see it with our progress on bringing inflation down, helping people. You can see it with a long-term workforce plan, hiring doctors and nurses for the future.

“These are all things that are going to change our country for the better. It’s an example of the type of leadership that I am bringing.”

The topic that has dominated this week’s conference is the future of HS2, with Sky News reporting on Monday that the northern leg of the high-speed rail line between Birmingham and Manchester will be axed after weeks of speculation.

But while Downing Street said officially that “no final decisions have been taken”, sources gave Sky News’ Mhari Aurora “the heaviest hint yet” an announcement would feature in the prime minister’s conference speech on Wednesday – and his remarks would be “worth waiting for”.

Questioned over whether he had made up his mind, Mr Sunak revealed nothing, dismissing “speculation” and adding: “I approach all these things carefully, thoughtfully, rigorously.”

But pressed multiple times over whether he had made the call to announce it tomorrow, the prime minister said: “I think it’s right that I’m not going to get forced into making premature decisions, not on something that’s so important that it costs this country tens of billions of pounds.”

He also denied that the conference had descended into chaos over the topic – as well as the return of Ms Truss and her calls for tax cuts – instead claiming Tory members had “a spring in their step” and “really support” his plans.

Labour’s national campaign coordinator, Pat McFadden, said: “We’ve had 13 years of Tory failure. The prime minister isn’t a cure for that failure – he’s a product of it. And every day the Tories stay in power it all just carries on.

“He is too weak to take on all the competing factions and contenders already jockeying to replace him. The sooner the election comes the better because it’s time to turn the page on the Tory years and start to rebuild Britain.”

Politics

Another tantrum from the Labour backbenches is inevitable

Published

6 hours ago

July 6, 2025

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Rachel Reeves hints at tax rises in autumn budget after welfare bill U-turn

In common with many parents across the country, here’s a conversation that I have with my young daughter on a semi-regular basis (bear with me, this will take on some political relevance eventually).

Me: “So it’s 15 minutes until your bedtime, you can either have a little bit of TV or do a jigsaw, not both.”

Daughter: “Ummmm, I want to watch TV.”

Me: “That’s fine, but it’s bed after that, you can’t do a jigsaw as well.”

Fast-forward 15 minutes.

Me: “Right, TV off now please, bedtime.”

(Pause)

Daughter: “I want to do a jigsaw.”

Now replace me with the government, the TV and jigsaw options with axing welfare cuts and scrapping the two-child cap, and my daughter with rebellious backbenchers.

Politics latest: Former Labour leader calls for wealth tax on assets above £10m

That is the tension currently present between Downing Street and Labour MPs. And my initial ultimatum is the messaging being pumped out from the government this weekend.

In essence: you’ve had your welfare U-turn, so there’s no money left for the two-child cap to go as well.

As an aside – and before my inbox fills with angry emails lambasting me for using such a crude metaphor for policies that fundamentally alter the lives of some of the most vulnerable in society – yes, I hear you, and that’s part of my point.

For many in Labour, this approach feels like the lives of their constituents are being used in a childish game of horse-trading.

So what can be done?

Well, the government could change the rules.

Altering the fiscal rules is – and will likely remain – an extremely unlikely solution. But as it happens, one of Labour’s proverbial grandparents has just popped round with a different suggestion.

A wealth tax, Lord Neil Kinnock says, is the necessary outcome of the economic restrictions the party has placed on itself.

Ever the Labour storyteller, Lord Kinnock believes this would allow the government to craft a more compelling narrative about whose side this administration is on.

That could be valuable, given one of the big gripes from many backbench critics is that they still don’t really understand what this prime minister stands for – and by extension, what all these “difficult decisions” are in aid of.

The downside is whether it will actually raise much money.

The super-rich may have lots of assets to take a slice from, but they also have expensive lawyers ready to find novel ways to keep their client’s cash away from the prying eyes of the state.

Or, of course, they could just leave – as many are doing already.

In the short term, the future is a bit easier to predict.

If Downing Street is indeed now saying there is no money to scrap the two-child cap (after heavy briefing in the opposite direction just weeks ago), an almighty tantrum from the backbenches is inevitable.

And as every parent knows, the more you give in, the harder it becomes to hold the line.

Politics

UK restores diplomatic ties with Syria

Published

12 hours ago

July 6, 2025

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The UK has re-established diplomatic ties with Syria, David Lammy has said, as he made the first visit to the country by a British minister for 14 years.

The foreign secretary visited Damascus and met with interim president Ahmed al Sharaa, also the leader of the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), and foreign minister Asaad al Shaibani.

It marks the latest diplomatic move since Bashar al Assad’s regime was toppled by rebel groups led by HTS in December.

In a statement, Mr Lammy said a “stable Syria is in the UK’s interests” and added: “I’ve seen first-hand the remarkable progress Syrians have made in rebuilding their lives and their country.

“After over a decade of conflict, there is renewed hope for the Syrian people.

“The UK is re-establishing diplomatic relations because it is in our interests to support the new government to deliver their commitment to build a stable, more secure and prosperous future for all Syrians.”

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has also announced a £94.5m support package for urgent humanitarian aid and to support the country’s long-term recovery, after a number of British sanctions against the country were lifted in April.

While HTS is still classified as a proscribed terror group, Sir Keir Starmer said last year that it could be removed from the list.

The Syrian president’s office also said on Saturday that the president and Mr Lammy discussed co-operation, as well as the latest developments in the Middle East.

Since Assad fled Syria in December, a transitional government headed by Mr al Sharaa was announced in March and a number of western countries have restored ties.

In May, US President Donald Trump said the United States would lift long-standing sanctions on Syria and normalise relations during a speech at the US-Saudi investment conference.

He said he wanted to give the country “a chance at peace” and added: “There is a new government that will hopefully succeed.

“I say good luck, Syria. Show us something special.”

Politics

Secret Service seizes $400M in crypto, cold wallet among world’s largest

Published

14 hours ago

July 6, 2025

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Secret Service seizes 0M in crypto, cold wallet among world’s largest

Secret Service quietly amasses one of the world’s largest crypto cold wallets with $400 million seized, exposing scams through blockchain sleuthing and VPN missteps.