SIX MORE YEARS
Rishi Sunak vows to win next year’s general election as he makes major policy promises
PM RISHI Sunak eyed six more years in No10 as he vowed he would win next year’s general election.
And he fired the starting gun on that campaign with major promises on boats and building.
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Brushing off his local elections drubbing, Mr Sunak last night ruled out another coalition deal between the Tories and the DUP, insisting he was in it to win five more years of Tory government.
And he drew a big dividing line with Labour by declaring only he would “make sure our green spaces are protected” from Sir Keir Starmer’s new plan to build more on the green belt.
Labour boss Sir Keir this week said he would loosen rules to build on protected countryside as the champion of “the builders not blockers”.
But Mr Sunak hit back: “I don’t think that is the right approach”, insisting local communities would be against Labour’s plans.
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The PM also insisted he would do “whatever it takes to empty our hotels” of migrants who arrived across the Channel on small boats.
And he insisted he was “working day and night” delivering for the people — stopping the small boats, driving down NHS waiting lists and fixing the economy.
Just weeks after the Tories lost over 1,000 council seats, he told reporters in Japan for the G7 summit: “I’m not interested in coalitions.”
But polling averages still have the Tories languishing on 28 per cent, with Labour on 45 per cent of the vote.
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Tory MPs have called on Mr Sunak to up his game with tax cuts and return to traditional Conservative values to avoid an election flop within months.
Asked if he will still be PM after the next election, Mr Sunak said: “Yes. I’m not thinking, actually, about my job. I spend my time thinking about everyone else.”
He ruled out another pact like Theresa May made in 2017, when she lost her majority and was forced to rely on the DUP for power.
Insiders say Mr Sunak is confident he can catch up in the polls before the next election — pointing to the gains he has made in six months.
One said: “When he first got in, they were saying Labour landslide. Now it’s Labour majority. Next year, who knows?”
A general election is expected to be called as soon as next spring. It has to take place before January 2025.
True blue Mr Sunak — in Japan with wife Akshata Murthy — wore red socks and a matching tie yesterday in a show of support for Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s favourite baseball team, Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
His socks were on display as he took off his shoes to observe Japanese etiquette.
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