NEW DELHI: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has taken the ‘unusual step’ of spending a day away from public events on the first Saturday of the election campaign to strategise with his closest advisers and family, ahead of the upcoming polls on July 4, PTI reported.
This comes amidst a significant number of senior Conservative Party members, including Cabinet ministers Michael Gove and Andrea Leadsom, announcing their decision not to stand for re-election in the upcoming polls.
In his letter, Gove acknowledged the challenges of political office and expressed his belief that it was time for a new generation to lead. “After careful reflection, I have decided not to stand as a candidate in the forthcoming election,” wrote Leadsom in released a letter to Sunak.
Despite claims that Sunak was hoping to reset his campaign, sources clarified that he was spending the day campaigning in his north England constituency of Yorkshire. Conservative minister Bim Afolami dismissed criticisms of the Sunak campaign made by the Opposition, emphasizing the importance of framing the election correctly.
Theresa May, who previously served as the prime minister, is one of the prominent members of parliament deciding to step down from their positions. This announcement comes after Ben Wallace, the former defence minister, had already made public his intention to withdraw from frontline politics.
During a visit to the Titanic Quarter in Belfast on Friday, Sunak faced a reporter’s question about whether he was “captaining a sinking ship” heading into the election. Meanwhile, Opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer is focusing on public events to argue that the Conservatives have damaged the economy and increased living costs.
A recent YouGov opinion poll conducted after Sunak called the snap summer general election showed Labour’s lead falling by three points, with the Conservatives up by one point to 22 percent and Labour down two to 44 percent.
(With inputs from agencies)
This comes amidst a significant number of senior Conservative Party members, including Cabinet ministers Michael Gove and Andrea Leadsom, announcing their decision not to stand for re-election in the upcoming polls.
In his letter, Gove acknowledged the challenges of political office and expressed his belief that it was time for a new generation to lead. “After careful reflection, I have decided not to stand as a candidate in the forthcoming election,” wrote Leadsom in released a letter to Sunak.
Despite claims that Sunak was hoping to reset his campaign, sources clarified that he was spending the day campaigning in his north England constituency of Yorkshire. Conservative minister Bim Afolami dismissed criticisms of the Sunak campaign made by the Opposition, emphasizing the importance of framing the election correctly.
Theresa May, who previously served as the prime minister, is one of the prominent members of parliament deciding to step down from their positions. This announcement comes after Ben Wallace, the former defence minister, had already made public his intention to withdraw from frontline politics.
During a visit to the Titanic Quarter in Belfast on Friday, Sunak faced a reporter’s question about whether he was “captaining a sinking ship” heading into the election. Meanwhile, Opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer is focusing on public events to argue that the Conservatives have damaged the economy and increased living costs.
A recent YouGov opinion poll conducted after Sunak called the snap summer general election showed Labour’s lead falling by three points, with the Conservatives up by one point to 22 percent and Labour down two to 44 percent.
(With inputs from agencies)