Rishi Sunak will give a speech on Monday setting out “bold ideas for changing society” – as he seeks to regain momentum following the defection of one of his MPs to the Labor Party and a hammering of local elections.
In what is being billed by Downing Street as a “major speech” in central London, the Prime Minister will outline “the difficult choice facing the UK public” ahead of the general election later this year.
Sunak has suggested he will go to the polls in the autumn, with Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron telling Sky News on Sunday that voters need time “to see that our plan is working”.
In a bid to revive his faltering premiership, the Conservative leader will say: “I have bold ideas that can change our society for the better and restore people’s confidence and pride in our country.
“I feel a deep sense of urgency. Because it will change more in the next five years than in the last 30.
“I am convinced that the next few years will be some of the most dangerous and, at the same time, most transformative our country has ever known.”
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It is unclear what specific ideas the prime minister will put forward.
An excerpt of the speech released by Downing Street says he will discuss safeguarding the country’s security against threats such as war and rising global immigration.
Sunak will also set out his intention to safely capitalize on the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence.
He will go on to say, “Our country is at a crossroads.
“In the coming years, from our democracy to our economy, to our society – to the most difficult issues of war and peace – almost every aspect of our lives will change.
“How we respond to these changes – not only to keep people safe and secure, but also to seize opportunities – will determine whether or not Britain succeeds in the years to come.
“And this is the choice the country faces.”
The speech comes after a difficult week for Sunak, who faced his second defection to the Labor Party after Dover MP Natalie Elphicke crossed the room to join the opposition benches just before PMQ on Wednesday.
Rishi Sunak and Natalie Elphicke in June 2023
Defecting Tory attacks Conservatives
Elphicke, considered to be on the right of the Conservative party, blamed the “broken promises of Rishi Sunak’s tired and chaotic government” and said the main deciding factors for change were “housing and the security of our borders”.
The shock move made her the second Conservative MP to join the Labor Party in 11 days, after former minister Dan Poulter defected to the oppositionblaming the “chaos” of the NHS.
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Sunak also came under pressure after the Conservatives suffered defeat in the local elections, losing almost 500 council seats, the Backpool South by-election and the West Midlands mayoral election, in a bruising set of results.
In the wake of the defeats, Sunak faced calls to orient himself to both the right and the center.
Time is running out to make up ground against Labor before the elections, which will have to be held by January 25th at the latest.
This story originally appeared on News.sky.com read the full story
