UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has squashed rumors that he might step down before the July 4 general election, despite ongoing criticism for his early departure from D-Day commemoration events.
Sunak faced backlash from veterans’ groups and even his own colleagues for not attending the event in northern France to mark the 80th anniversary of the invasion, choosing instead to record a television interview. This controversy is the latest in a series of missteps as he campaigns for votes.
Despite polls predicting a significant loss to the Labour party, Sunak remains steadfast. “People are gonna say what they’re gonna say,” he remarked, emphasizing that the election is not a done deal. He pointed out that he has overcome challenges before, such as his 2022 defeat in the Tory leadership race to Liz Truss.
On the campaign trail, Sunak declared, “I’m not going to stop going, I’m not going to stop fighting for people’s votes, I’m not going to stop fighting for the future of our country.”
Though he had until January next year to call a general election, Sunak opted for an earlier date as inflation began to slow, suggesting an improvement in the country’s economic condition. His announcement, made during a rainy day at Downing Street, caught many in his party off guard, leaving them scrambling to find candidates for the 650 parliamentary seats.
Other recent blunders included a campaign stop near the Titanic’s construction site, leading to unflattering comparisons to a sinking ship. Sunak, a 44-year-old former financier who became prime minister following Truss’s brief term, has also been questioned about his claims regarding Labour’s tax plans.
As the Tories prepare to release their formal policy proposals on Tuesday, Sunak is expected to face further scrutiny. Meanwhile, Labour leader Keir Starmer has promised “no tax surprises” for working people in their manifesto, set to be unveiled on Thursday.