British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Labour Party rival Keir Starmer will kick off their election campaigns on Thursday. This comes a day after Sunak surprised the nation by calling for general elections on July 4.
The British prime minister announced the election on the day inflation returned close to target. His early message to voters has been that his plan for the economy is working and he can guide the UK to recovery.
“Who do you trust to turn that foundation into a secure future for you, your family and our country?” he told a rally on Wednesday. He cast Labour as a party without a plan.
“We’re working for a Britain where we have renewed confidence in ourselves and our communities. A country where hard work will be met with fair rewards and where the opportunities enjoyed by the previous generations will be there for future ones.”
Sunak’s announcement ended months of speculation of an election in October or November. However, the Conservative Party is in big trouble. It trails Labour by around 20 percentage points in opinion polls. This is due to the fact Labour leader Keir Starmer has pulled Labour’s politics back to the centre after a spell of left-wing leadership. Starmer has pitched his party as one that will bring change for a disgruntled electorate.
“Labour will stop the chaos, turn the page and get Britain’s future back.”
Starmer also described the election as “the fight of our lives.”
If Labour win the election it will end 14 years of Conservative government. Britain will have had six prime ministers in eight years for the first time since the 1830s.
(REUTERS)
