British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Keir Starmer yesterday launched their election campaigns, each arguing that only they can snap the UK out of its economic and political malaise.
Sunak, whose Conservative Party has trailed Labour by about 20 percentage points in opinion polls since he became prime minister in October 2022, shocked and angered many in his party when he gambled on a July 4 election, calling it months earlier than expected.
He yesterday argued that the economy was turning a corner and he had a plan to tackle illegal immigration. However, with prices in the shops up 21 percent in the past three years and the National Health Service buckling under record waiting times, it might be hard to persuade voters that the UK is on the right track.
Photo: Reuters
Sunak also admitted the first flights sending illegal migrants to Rwanda, a flagship policy, would not take off before the election. Legal challenges are already lined up.
The former investment banker on Wednesday announced his decision in the pouring rain in Downing Street, having to shout over protesters blaring the song Things Can Only Get Better — an anthem associated with Labour’s crushing 1997 election victory under former British prime minister Tony Blair that ended the last long period of Conservative rule.
“Economic stability is now returning to the country,” Sunak told GB News television. “Although I know not everyone is feeling the full benefits of that yet, it’s clear that we have turned a corner. Now is the moment to look to the future.”
Photo: AFP
At stake is control of the world’s sixth-largest economy which has endured years of low growth and high inflation, is still battling to make a success of its 2016 decision to leave the EU, and is slowly recovering from twin shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic and an energy price spike caused by the war in Ukraine.
That backdrop makes the economy one of the most important electoral battlegrounds. The two parties are also likely to focus on who can control migration numbers, tax, and spending and security.
Polls show voters want change, even if they are not hugely enthused by Starmer and his Labour Party, after 14 years of Conservative government marked by unprecedented levels of political turmoil and so-called culture war issues.
Coffee shop worker Kitty McMurray, on her way to work, said the UK needed an election because it felt like everything was falling apart.
“Bring it on,” the 29-year-old said.
Both party leaders are expected to hit the campaign trail, seeking to seize the early initiative by meeting voters and pressing the messages they hope would earn them enough seats in parliament to form a majority government on July 5.
Starmer, the former chief prosecutor who has pulled Labour’s politics back to the center ground after it lurched to the left under his predecessor, has vowed to bring stability — and change — to a disgruntled electorate.
“Labour will stop the chaos, turn the page and get Britain’s future back,” he said in an early campaign message to party members, describing the election as “the fight of our lives.”
Were Labour to win the election, Starmer would become Britain’s sixth prime minister in eight years, the first time that has happened since the 1830s, underscoring the level of turmoil that has gripped a kingdom once known for its political stability and pragmatism.
While the electioneering gets underway, activity in parliament is expected to pick up too as the government works out which of the pieces of legislation in process would be rushed through, and which would fall by the wayside.
Laws under discussion include Sunak’s plan to impose some of the world’s strictest anti-smoking rules by banning anyone aged 15 and under from ever buying cigarettes.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old