Rishi Sunak's speech outside Downing Street gave a glimpse of what Britons can expect to hear from the prime minister as he seeks to defy grim expectations for his party and retain power.
He sought to dispel criticism of his record, pointing to two major challenges (Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine) that he said amounted to “the most difficult times since World War II.”
Critics say that while all countries have faced those forces, many comparable economies are doing better than Britain. But Sunak said he had restored “hard-won economic stability”.
Sunak largely touched on illegal migration, which is expected to be a major issue of his election campaign.
He stated that “we are stopping ships with our partnership with Rwanda,” although that agreement, which was finally signed into law last month, has not yet led to any asylum seekers being deported to the African country.
He also highlighted other policies, such as saying Britons will be the first generation “to grow up smoke-free”, a key legacy-defining Sunak plan that has not and will not reach parliament before the election. .
And he attacked Keir Starmer's political record, saying the Labor leader has not made clear what he stands for.
