As Rishi Sunak marks his first anniversary as prime minister this week, he will likely want to focus on his recent achievements in holding talks with key players in the Middle East rather than on his troubled domestic agenda.
His top five promises are far from being fulfilled, and his party’s standing in opinion polls has fallen to dismal levels after two defeats in last week’s midterm elections.
One of those five promises – to stop small boats crossing the English Channel – is so chaotic that – as Lizzie Dearden reports today – Home Office officials are calling the plan to bring migrants to Rwanda “absurd” and that it “may not become a reality”. “.
The plan’s January deadline could be missed as officials grapple with the practical complexities of a plan that is already beset by legal challenges. When asked about bailing small boats yesterday by the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire, Immigration Secretary Robert Jenrick appeared to say: “We’re not going to stop them completely” and then refused when asked to clarify.
He, of course, revealed only what the people in Whitehall could say in private. Likewise, few in government or the NHS will believe that waiting lists will be scrapped before the next election.
And inflation, which Mr Sunak has promised to halve by the end of this year, remained at 6.7% in August and September.
Unsurprisingly, Mr Sunak used his party conference speech to put forward a new slogan to replace the five promises: “Long-term choices for a better future.”
Of course, Mr Sunak cannot go back on his promises because the opposition and voters will not let him forget. But looking back on their first year in Downing Street, perhaps it’s time to give them some style.
Source: I News
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