Rishi Sunak Vows Bold and Radical Change in Sweeping Speech
Rishi Sunak, the UK Prime Minister, delivered a sweeping speech at the Tory conference, promising to bring back common sense and make bold changes in various areas. Sunak vowed to reform A-Levels, scrap portions of the HS2 project, and take on his opponents, including Keir Starmer and woke extremists.
Challenging Labour and Euro Judges
In his speech, Sunak threw down the gauntlet to the Labour party, vowing to be bold and radical and do whatever it takes to stop small boats from crossing the UK's borders. He also promised never to cave to pressure from trans activists, stating that a man is a man and a woman is a woman, and called for transparency in schools regarding the teaching of relationships.
Hammering Keir Starmer and Enemies of Change
Sunak didn't hold back in criticizing Keir Starmer, branding him as a "walking definition of the 30-year political status quo" and warning that Labour wants to drag Britain back under Brussels rule. He emphasized his mission to fundamentally change the UK, contrasting it with Labour's attempt to do and say as little as possible. Sunak argued that this approach is wrong and everything that is problematic in politics.
Binning HS2 and Investing in Infrastructure
As part of his policy blitz, Sunak confirmed the scrapping of the Manchester leg of the HS2 project. He cited the changing economic case, increased costs, and delays as reasons for the decision. The £36 billion earmarked for HS2 will now be reinvested in a comprehensive network of road and rail projects, connecting 50 stations in the North and Midlands, including Manchester and Liverpool. The plan also includes road upgrades that were long-promised.
Banning Smoking and Reforming A-Levels
Addressing public health concerns, Sunak vowed to ban youngsters from smoking by introducing new laws. He argued that this decision would save more lives than any other made by the Conservative Party. Additionally, he unveiled plans to reform A-Levels by replacing them with an Advanced British Standard that includes mandatory subjects like English and math, along with vocational classes. The changes would also reduce the number of hours in the classroom compared to current A-Levels or T-Levels.
Clashes with BMA Doctors and a Warning on Tax Cuts
Turning his attention to the National Health Service (NHS), Sunak criticized striking BMA doctors, accusing them of demanding unaffordable pay rises and putting politics before patient care. He also echoed Margaret Thatcher's caution against policies that risked inflation, calling for more time before implementing tax cuts.
Jokes and Controversy
Sunak managed to lighten the tone with a joke aimed at former SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, who is currently facing a police investigation into her party's finances. However, the Prime Minister's comment about Sturgeon has landed him in hot water, with a police investigation underway regarding allegations of contempt of court.
Labor responded to Sunak's speech, dismissing it as a desperate attempt to reset his weak leadership.
