Sunak claimed the Labor Party's refusal to adopt the government's plan to spend 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) on defense sent the wrong message at a time when the world was entering "one of the most dangerous periods we have ever known". Was facing.
The highly personal attack on Starmer came as Sunak attempted to revive Conservative hopes with his party licking its wounds after falling more than 20 points behind in opinion polls and losing in local elections.
Britain's next general election must be held no later than January 2025, but Suna has indicated he may call it this autumn.
Starmer rejected the attack, saying "I know first-hand the importance of national security from my role as Director of Public Prosecutions".
Sunak said that despite the dangers in the coming years, there is also opportunity and that voters will have a choice between the Conservatives' "optimistic" view of the future and Labour's "catastrophism".In a speech to the Policy Exchange think tank, Sunak said he is "confident" his party can win the general election because it is "the only party really talking about the future" and with "bold ideas and a clear plan." ” is offering. "High talk."
The Prime Minister's wide-ranging address warned of threats over the next five years from the "axis of authoritarian powers" including China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, extremists trying to create division at home, artificial intelligence and new technologies. There is fear that global forces are threatening people's financial security.
He said: "People want to know they have someone in charge who understands these dangers, because only if you understand what's going on can you be trusted to keep us safe."
Sunak plans to spend 2.5 percent of GDP on defense by 2030, with the money coming mainly from cutting the size of the civil service.Labor has said it wants to increase defense spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP, but has not set a date for achieving that target and will conduct a defense review if it wins the election.
Sunak said: "I am confident that we will keep this country safe and Keir Starmer's actions show that he will not be able to do that."
He added: “The failure of the Labor Party and Keir Starmer to match our investment in defense spending emboldens our opponents.
“What do you think Putin thinks when he sees this? Does he think the West is unwilling to make the tough choices about investing in its own security?
"As Russia's economy is mobilized for war, it continues to be aggressive, we need to counter that aggression with force."
Sunak also accused the opposition of attempting to "undermine his path to victory" with "doomsday prospects, gaslighting and scaremongering about pensions".He said: "They have just one thing: a calculation by which they can make you feel bad about your country, that you won't have the energy to ask what they can do with the incredible power they wield." want to receive."
Sunak acknowledged that the public felt "anxious and uncertain", but denied that it was all due to "14 years of Conservative government".
But as he painted a picture of tough times ahead, the Prime Minister also pointed to the significant opportunities presented by transformative technologies like AI, saying, “It is our responsibility to see this as not only a great threat but also a great progress.” Make a round.” ,”
The highly personal attack on Starmer came as Sunak attempted to revive Conservative hopes with his party licking its wounds after falling more than 20 points behind in opinion polls and losing in local elections.
Britain's next general election must be held no later than January 2025, but Suna has indicated he may call it this autumn.
Starmer rejected the attack, saying "I know first-hand the importance of national security from my role as Director of Public Prosecutions".
Sunak said that despite the dangers in the coming years, there is also opportunity and that voters will have a choice between the Conservatives' "optimistic" view of the future and Labour's "catastrophism".In a speech to the Policy Exchange think tank, Sunak said he is "confident" his party can win the general election because it is "the only party really talking about the future" and with "bold ideas and a clear plan." ” is offering. "High talk."
The Prime Minister's wide-ranging address warned of threats over the next five years from the "axis of authoritarian powers" including China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, extremists trying to create division at home, artificial intelligence and new technologies. There is fear that global forces are threatening people's financial security.
He said: "People want to know they have someone in charge who understands these dangers, because only if you understand what's going on can you be trusted to keep us safe."
Sunak plans to spend 2.5 percent of GDP on defense by 2030, with the money coming mainly from cutting the size of the civil service.Labor has said it wants to increase defense spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP, but has not set a date for achieving that target and will conduct a defense review if it wins the election.
Sunak said: "I am confident that we will keep this country safe and Keir Starmer's actions show that he will not be able to do that."
He added: “The failure of the Labor Party and Keir Starmer to match our investment in defense spending emboldens our opponents.
“What do you think Putin thinks when he sees this? Does he think the West is unwilling to make the tough choices about investing in its own security?
"As Russia's economy is mobilized for war, it continues to be aggressive, we need to counter that aggression with force."
Sunak also accused the opposition of attempting to "undermine his path to victory" with "doomsday prospects, gaslighting and scaremongering about pensions".He said: "They have just one thing: a calculation by which they can make you feel bad about your country, that you won't have the energy to ask what they can do with the incredible power they wield." want to receive."
Sunak acknowledged that the public felt "anxious and uncertain", but denied that it was all due to "14 years of Conservative government".
But as he painted a picture of tough times ahead, the Prime Minister also pointed to the significant opportunities presented by transformative technologies like AI, saying, “It is our responsibility to see this as not only a great threat but also a great progress.” Make a round.” ,”
