Despite surveys continually showing the reverse, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reiterated on Monday that his struggling governing Conservative party can win a general election. However, he declined to announce the election’s date.
In an attempt to defend the 14 years that the Tories have been in power, Sunak asserted that Keir Starmer’s Labour opposition will make Britain less safe. The Labour Party is largely predicted to retake power.
The leader of the UK acknowledged that Labour, which has not been in power since 2010, would ultimately suffer a setback, even though he was “confident” his party will win a fifth successive term.
“I’m clear-eyed enough to admit that, yes, maybe they can depress their way to victory,” Sunak said in a speech in central London, accusing Labour of “scaremongering” and “gaslighting”.
“But I don’t think it will work because at heart we are a nation of optimists,” he added, before warning of several dangers himself.
Sunak listed several concerns that needed to be addressed, including the conflict between Russia and Europe, Iran’s missile launches in the Middle East, and the uncertainties surrounding artificial intelligence.
In addition, he made reference to “cancel culture,” Scottish nationalists seeking independence from the United Kingdom, and “authoritarian” nations like North Korea and China.
“Our country stands at a crossroads,” he stated.
“I’m convinced that the next few years will be some of the most dangerous, yet most transformational, our country has ever known,” Sunak added.
