By Ben Kerrigan-
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour Party leader Keir Starmer have officially launched their election campaigns, each presenting themselves as the solution to the UK’s ongoing economic and political issues.
The campaigns kicked off on Thursday, following Sunak’s surprising announcement of a general election on July 4, a move that has sparked controversy and concern within his party.
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Sunak, whose Conservative Party has consistently trailed Labour by about 20 percentage points in polls since he assumed office in October 2022, defended his decision to call an early election.
Addressing voters at an event in central England, Sunak claimed that the economy was beginning to improve and outlined his plan to address illegal immigration.
However, with shop prices up 21% over the past three years and the National Health Service struggling with record waiting times, convincing the public that the country is on the right path may prove challenging.
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“Even though there’s more work to do and I know it will take time for you to see the benefits, the plan is working,” Sunak told workers, attempting to assure them of the government’s progress.
Sunak’s announcement, made in the pouring rain outside Downing Street on Wednesday, was met with protestors playing “Things Can Only Get Better,” a song famously associated with Labour’s 1997 election victory under Tony Blair. This moment underscored the tension and high stakes of the upcoming election.
Adding to Sunak’s challenges, he acknowledged on Thursday that his government’s flagship policy to send illegal migrants to Rwanda, which is currently entangled in legal challenges, would not commence before the election.
Despite these setbacks, Sunak received a minor boost when Nigel Farage, a prominent Brexit campaigner, announced he would not run for election under the Reform Party banner, potentially limiting the party’s impact on the Conservative voter base.
Keir Starmer, on the other hand, positioned himself as the leader capable of rescuing the country from years of economic stagnation and political turmoil. The upcoming election will decide the leadership of the world’s sixth-largest economy, which has faced prolonged low growth and high inflation.
The UK is also still grappling with the consequences of its 2016 Brexit decision, the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the energy price surge triggered by the war in Ukraine.
The July 4 election will be a crucial moment for both Sunak and Starmer as they vie for control of a nation in dire need of effective leadership and a clear path forward.
The campaigns promise to be fiercely contested, with each leader striving to convince voters that they have the vision and capability to lead the UK out of its current crises.
A large section of the British media consider the announcement a big gamble. The Guardian’s poll shows labour ahead
Image: Nate Kitch
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