Sunak To Commence UK Election Campaign
The British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, is ready to commence his election campaign on Wednesday, with a much-anticipated keynote speech closing his ruling Conservatives’ annual conference.
The UK leader faces a daunting challenge rallying his Tories to win the election – due sometime in 2024 – after several years of damaging scandals and deep economic woes.
The party, in power since 2010, has lagged behind the main Labour opposition in polls throughout Sunak’s tenure.
However, signs that the gap could be narrowing have provided a glimmer of hope as the grassroots gathered in Manchester, northwest England, since Sunday.
Sunak, 43, is scheduled to speak at 11:45 am (1045 GMT) and will continue a recent shift into campaign mode, following a flurry of more populist policy announcements and pivots targeted at drawing dividing lines with Labour.
Just before the speech, Defence Minister Grant Shapps all but confirmed that the prime minister would announce the scrapping of the northern leg of the HS2 train line, a highly contentious move that has overshadowed the four-day yearly event.
