British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, after declaring a general election for July 4, is reportedly opting for a day away from public events on the first weekend of the campaign. The 44-year-old leader of Indian origin is said to be spending the time with his closest advisers and family, amidst a significant exodus of senior members from his Conservative Party.
The decision follows Cabinet ministers Michael Gove and Andrea Leadsom announcing their withdrawal from re-election, adding to the tally of party members opting out of the summer polls, which now stands at 78.
Gove’s anticipated announcement was made via social media on Friday, followed by Leadsom’s letter to Sunak expressing her decision not to stand as a candidate. The departure of key figures like former Prime Minister Theresa May and former Defense Minister Ben Wallace has also marked the unfolding political landscape. Sources cited by The Guardian suggest that Sunak’s day away from public events marks an unusual move for a prime minister during the initial stages of an election campaign. While some dismiss notions of Sunak trying to reset his campaign, others highlight the departure from tradition in spending the first campaign weekend at home with advisers.
Opposition Labour MP Stella Creasy took to social media to criticize Sunak’s purported break, suggesting a need for a different government. However, claims of Sunak’s day off were countered, asserting his engagement in campaigning in his Yorkshire constituency.
Conservative minister Bim Afolami dismissed criticisms of Sunak’s campaign, emphasizing the importance of framing the election correctly. Meanwhile, Labour leader Keir Starmer remains active in the campaign, focusing on the Conservatives’ economic impact. This comes as Labour’s lead reportedly fell by three points in the first YouGov opinion poll since Sunak’s election call, with Conservatives gaining one point to 22% and Labour dropping two points to 44%.
