Has Rishi Sunak just destroyed his own campaign? | Election 2024 | The New Statesman

[@NewStatesman]

Watch next: Farage sets Sunak on course for "annihilation" kzbin.info/www/bejne/gn6qgp5mett_a9E

[@Jessjoe1956]

Sunak said “ judge me on my record”. On the 4th of July, I fully intend to do just that.

[@PassiveAgressive319]

Agree

[@MegaRugster]

Yep you pay lower taxes now you'll vote for someone who will put them back up.. go you.

[@isbestlizard]

"Don't politicise D-Day!" says man who politicised D-Day by sneaking off early to do a political interview telling political lies about his political opponents

[@th3villager874]

Absolutely ridiculous he has the nerve to say that given the context. What a pos

[@Iazzaboyce]

That's just not true - 'politicising D Day' would involve using D Day to make a political gain of some sort and cleary this is not what Sunak has done. David Cameron was there on the last day - why is no one asking where the representative of Canada was on the last day?

[@mootedtols4865]

@@Iazzaboyce British people in general don't spend much time on politics, let alone north American politics. We don't care.

[@matthewsemple]

​@@Iazzaboyce people in Britain are not going to be voting for a representative from Canada anytime soon.

[@adrianbaron4994]

And also lied about lying.

[@Grandfinal43]

Imagine what would the papers say if this was Corbyn. That’s how much grace I’m giving to the whole “let’s not politicise this”

[@billpugh58]

I am not a Corbyn supporter but I absolutely agree.

[@Ealsante]

Let's not forget Sunak deserted D-Day in order to POLITICISE STUFF. If he was leaving it because something terrible had happened in the UK, that would be unfortunate but reasonable. He was leaving it to do a fucking electioneering interview.

[@andrewbradley4261]

The average person might spend 5 minutes per week following politics BUT a massive proportion of Conservative (older) voters will have been watching wall to wall coverage of D-Day commemorations. Far worse than Barnard Castle - party leader, four weeks from election.

[@alantheinquirer7658]

"Bring back National Service!" "Yaaaaay!" "I really couldn't care about military veterans!" "Booooo!"

[@ivanconnolly7332]

I'ncontinence 'on this political level is fatal.

[@RickyHarding]

I come from Barney and it's never not shocking to see our tiny little boring town pop up in random comments

[@gilgamecha]

It's not an anagram but Sunak really is Labour Plan A.

[@janewest2845]

Good point! Full time workers wont be watching the whole event.

[@MrDeadhead1952]

This is disastrous for Sunak as whilst he's managed to insult the people most likely to vote Tory those who are old enough for D-Day to mean something to them.

[@willowtree9291]

Plenty of younger people, particularly those with links to the military, consider the DDay celebrations very important.

[@marksimons8861]

D-Day means a lot to people of all ages.

[@jaybee4288]

Given how we can now see how media swings things, we were probably the villains back then too.

[@carlcassidy185]

Not true. The War Generation are more likely to vote Labour, their Boomer children are more likely to vote Tory

[@PhilMasters]

@@marksimons8861True, but it’s probably most *guaranteed* to be significant to the Tory-pensioner set.

[@XenonPrimeSBSV]

Yes, I can't see how he could possibly recover from this, the sheer dishonour and shame is STAGGERING.

[@FatHeadedZebra]

It's the worst of a long series of events like this 🤷

[@ivanconnolly7332]

The longer the resignation takes the lower his reputation sinks, but that was in the before times.

[@caseypenk]

Doesn’t he have enough dignity and self-respect to resign???

[@caseypenk]

When your leadership has been rejected by the public please do resign because the public has lost trust.

[@FunnyBunny-pd5xx]

His unacceptable conduct is disgraceful and disrespectful. Unforgivable. HE not only ignored British History BUT HIS ancestors history ! Indian Soldiers were involved in The D-Day Landings, 6 June 1944. The Punjab Regiment, one of whom later received The Victorian Cross, was involved in The Battle of Monte Cassino.

[@paulc1553]

Yes. Unacceptable, Rishi Sunak leaving the 80th Anniversary of D-Day early. Sunak's a disgrace.

[@kanedNunable]

hes been a disgrace for a decade, dont forget hes one of the people who caused the banking crash

[@stevenhoward3358]

@@kanedNunable well remembered, it never fails to amaze me how people think he was so wonderful with Furlough when in reality it was yours and my money he was handing out. Most people cut even at best but Sunak made over a hundred million in the last year alone. He's in it for himself and doesn't give a jot about you or anyone else.

[@JackGladstoneHolroyde]

The Tories went HARD on Corbyn for not signing the national anthem at the Battle of Britain memorial - they've set expectations and now it's coming home to roost.

[@MrGorobu]

The reason people didn't watch the debate is because they've already made up their minds.

[@PassiveAgressive319]

Correct. I have

[@GamerX13X]

The debate format also sucked. Its just catchphrases and soundbites, with little substance imo. I wanna see the data and see if and when a large number of viewers tuned off

[@albertbrammer9263]

Personally they were odd choices of days to hold the debates. Sunak v Starmer at same time as Lionesses v France. Wider debate at same time as England v Iceland. I know which I watched and I am interested in politics.

[@dh1380]

For me the issue isn't necessarily that he ducked a d day event. I'm a veteran and i still work in rhe defence industry but I'm sort of ambivalent about that stuff in isolation BUT... This was a D day event with all the main world leaders (bar Putin which is also significant) were present, WHILST THERE IS A WAR IN EASTERN EUROPE. Zelensky was there and he is actually leading a war... That is THE war we are involved in for the sake of European security. Like WTF. I am embarrassed a million fold by the tone-deafness of this man. Honestly what planet is he on? I wince at the thought of how this will be cascaded across European media. THIS GOVERNMENT continues to bury us in shame.

[@reddwarfer999]

I think you are over-estimating how much this will be reported across Europe. Had President Macron nipped off home early under cimilar circumstances it would probably have been mentioned in the news here but only as a footnote.

[@dh1380]

​​​@@reddwarfer999I hope you're right but that doesn't change much for me. Especially post-brexit where attitudes towards the UK are already tainted and rightly so.

[@ganrimmonim]

Whilst given the current political situation, it was a big ask for Putin to show up. It would also have been a golden opportunity to share a few words with the POTUS.

[@dfuher968]

@@reddwarfer999 Ur right, its not really reported a lot. After all, u guys already left Europe, we kinda lost interest years ago. The only thing, I saw, was comic drawning "Finally, a British PM has apologized for leaving Europe". That said, while u guys have little to no importance on the Continent, after u chose to leave the EU and give us all the finger and a lot of verbal abuse on the way out, regardless of how u apparently like to think, ur all, we think about, it is a serious blunder in the connection, the OP mentions of the Ukraine war. Where to ur credit u have stepped up and help, but leaving all ur allies behind was pretty politically stupid, no ifs, ands or buts about that. Especially on such an idiotic excuse.

[@reddwarfer999]

@@dfuher968 'Finally a British PM has apologised for leaving Euope'. That one did make me smile. But let me tell you this. I voted to remain in the EU. The referendum result was 52% leave 48% remain. So please don't think that the UK as a whole 'gave you the finger'. There are millions of us here who bitterly regret the idiotic decision that was made.

[@Calzaki]

Put this on a poster: Rishi Sunak - He'll force your kids to join the army, but won't bother showing up to a memorial if they die for us in a war

[@dido.the.side.h0646]

mmm none of that is actually true, but whatevs. Doesn't seem to matter to sheeple generational labour voters

[@Bagofnowt]

​@@dido.the.side.h0646 well he wants to bring back national service, but can't be arsed to honour the veterans of the most important war in history. The last major anniversary, incidentally, where any of the veterans will be alive.

[@Calzaki]

@@dido.the.side.h0646 mandatory national service = make your kids join the army... Won't show up for the memorial = left D-Day early and only went at all because they twisted his arm. I think that's both true. I'd bet £2000 on it being more true than anything he's said

[@dido.the.side.h0646]

@@Bagofnowt most of national service will not be joining the army - it's one weekend a month and most will be volunteering w/ NHS, or more likely, in privately run but part council funded care homes. And he did attend the memorial service, he just skipped the meeting with other EU leaders

[@dido.the.side.h0646]

@@Calzaki see my reply to barry. and try to think for yourself

[@PassiveAgressive319]

R: “Oi Cameron…do you think I should stay for the rest of the ‘British’ D day celebrations?” DC: “Noo Rishi, you go back to the UK, I’ve got this😏. There’s only one last photo op” R: “Right, I’m off then..see you later. I’ve got an interview with ITV to double down on the lies I told this week”

[@robertbones326]

Rishi Sunak DESTROYEDDDDDD by his OWN ACTIONS and FACTS!!!!!!!!

[@ECECECECEC]

More by his own actions and blatant lies.

[@stevenhoward3358]

Look at the demographic of who remembers D Day with most importance and who is Sunak touting for votes. Yes it will make a difference.

[@salmamohamed4319]

Reform party who use to be Brexit pary, who use to be UPIK party telling us ordinary people we should vote for Nigel Farage is the biggest joke 😂

[@jamespaton8594]

As an old, retired, 'politician' of forty years, very uplifted to see such young, thoughtful and very smart - Britain Elect - analysis of what is going on and of the apathy. Keep it up. I have always gone on about the fact that 30% regularly don't vote. Getting even 10% of those voting - the young - can make a huge difference in seats. Thank you for your efforts.

[@agcwoodham]

Echoed. I’m your sort of age and I love young people, my children are now in their thirties and it’s great they are so engaged in politics and political thinking. Good on the Staggers for offering the upcoming generations this platform. Long may it continue!

[@nlewin5072]

Rishi Sunak: "Guys, guys, I've got this... the final nail. Where's the hammer?"

[@stewartdoyle3719]

You knock Reform for the way Farage has taken on becoming the leader of the party, but how democratic was it that Sunak not only became the leader of the party, that is after being rejected by the membership of the party in favour of Truss previously but became the PM by default. Totally undemocratic!!!

[@grumpyoldsodinacellar3518]

In a word ..... yes, he's finished, thank goodness.

[@TerriObrien-mi5rx]

Sunak canvassing in Wiltshire and again repeating the £2000 tax Labour,despite being advised it’s untrue,he’s like a desperate robot 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡

[@PassiveAgressive319]

What an absolute PR disaster

[@billpugh58]

No! He has shamed us as a nation, our most important elected national representative at this occasion - the 80th anniversary of D-Day, disrespected the veterans who crossed the beaches, the heroes who died, the other heads of state and us as a nation. How dare he! How dare he!

[@cmarsh9988]

Pretty interesting that these 'journalists' are so out of touch to say that the public won't know or care about this... the whole country is going to know about this

[@ChrisKLewis]

Given how certain sections of the right fetishises WWII, this apparent disrespectful snub by Sunak will have a significantly negative effect on the Tory base. Why would they get out and vote for a PM who disrespects veterans when the eyes of the world are focused on D-Day, and noticing Sunak’s absence?

[@andrewmcneil]

And Binface is running in Richmond🤣🤣👍

[@andrewcross5918]

Hope he does not split the vote that much. With the way the campaign is going Sunak could lose his seat.

[@G0Lg0Th4N]

It would be delightful if he lost his seat to Count Binface. Rishi would be remembered forever as the joke that he is.

[@andrewmcneil]

@@andrewcross5918 Richmond is very military proud I think he may well loose if voters flock to one party and don’t split between L and LD.

[@andrewmcneil]

@@G0Lg0Th4N Worth it for the pictures alone

[@cappinjocj9316]

I would love to see Count Binface sitting in parliament, it would be glorious.

[@BanjoLuke1]

Be careful about using viewing figures for a TV debate as any sort of indicator of popular engagement. I am a 60-something lifelong left-leaning liberal (quite politically engaged). My wife likewise, but slightly Green Party. Our three (adult) children all occupy different parts of the left but are probably all Labour. We are (as a family) pretty politically engaged. Our social contacts likewise. Few if any of them watched the TV debate. "Yaa-Boo" sound bites and gags prepared by speechwriters, think tanks and SpAds tell us nothing.

[@andrewjenkinson7052]

He is the first PM to apologise for leaving Europe

[@daraorourke5798]

Touché!

[@richmaniow]

There is no way back for Sunak now, he will be forever known as the prime minister who snubbed D-day. True blue Tory voters will either go to Reform or most likely stay at home on polling day. The only question now is how badly the Tories will lose on July 4th..

[@svresh]

I assume this was recorded quite early because I tell you now, out and about on the doors, it has ABSOLUTELY cut through.

[@karendooks6244]

So Sunak has just demonstrated what his real attitude to the armed services is. He thought paying lip service to the D Day event, and all along had planned to leave early was good enough. We'll it's not good enough mate, you DO NOT deserve to continue being Prime minister.

[@paulslater9061]

I think Sunak wants out

[@MrDeadhead1952]

With Mordaunt being a veteran and Farage making an issue out of the young's disinterest in D-Day, it's a guaranteed loss for the Tories tonight.

[@Soul_of_a_Robot]

Is she a veteran?

[@grahambuckerfield4640]

@@Soul_of_a_Robot she was a reservist in the Royal Navy for a short time doing the absolute minimum. Her government has made big cuts in all three services, she has a now marginal seat in Portsmouth who would have felt these cuts. As for Farage, if he had been around in WW2 he’d have been interned along with the rest of Mosley and his bunch.

[@Jay_Johnson]

@@Soul_of_a_Robot reservist

[@JohnHollyoak-vx6pn]

@@Soul_of_a_Robot she was rear door gunner on a submarine.

[@oitoitoi1]

@@grahambuckerfield4640 knowing farage he would have followed lord haw-haw's example and met the same fate.

[@Gerrygambone]

As an old man it's refreshing to see young people interested in politics.

[@A.Mardle]

Sunak has the Midas touch in reverse. Everything he touches turns to ****.

[@jenfirth8032]

That photo of Cameron and the other leaders - This is the Bobby in the shower moment when you wake up from 14 years asleep and find Cameron is still PM and we haven’t left the EU.

[@Nick.Martin.]

It was poor judgement for a PM. Therefore he’s not fit to be PM.

[@sadjaxx]

How terribly rude and insensitive of Sunak! Its D-day with the possible last of the veterans.

[@pauloates5972]

Sunak thinks he knows better and won't listen to any advice. He's a disgrace and should be out now .

[@terrypankhurst7601]

Just shows how much he actually cares.

[@z0n0ph0ne]

Sunak the brexiteer came home early because he didnt want to be seen by other brexiteers singing "Ode to Joy" under the EU flag. Its as simple as that, and entirely predictable.

[@dido.the.side.h0646]

yes that's probably true

[@ldabc4917]

I think most people already know who they are voting for regardless of what happens

[@ndavies8]

What the hell was Sunak's team thinking? Epic fail

[@DavidMotion-uv2pu]

It is ridiculous that a party with two MPs has a hold over the media. While the SNP with considerable number of MPs gets little coverage in the media. Wake up there are other things happening in the UK. Even after the election Reform will still be a smaller party than the SNP.

[@pat23668952]

Nearly every family in the country has members who fought or died in the WW2 conflict, they will definitely not be impressed.

[@jasonuren3479]

Yes

[@joandchrismarchant1080]

Thanks for using my question

[@samgrainger1554]

The picture of cameron with the leaders will be a trick question in history exams one day.

[@davidfenton4387]

Totally, munbelievably bad move. Disrespectful of the fallen and to world leaders.

[@Taidgh17]

Ah he's trying to loose. Either the tories in general have even more contempt for people than we can comprehend. Or no.10 is trying to burn down the party as they leave. There's no way nobody didn't think of the blowback. Even the apology wasnt even half arsed.

[@bobbill4541]

I really enjoyed this video thanks

[@WilliamjameswestWEST]

Who do you think you are kidding mr sunak?

[@stevec6232]

Short answer...YEP 💯 %

[@nikashby6363]

Isnt it a shame we cant respect or admire our own countries PM! Hes a disgrace

[@mickg7299]

It was already on life support, now it’s do not resuscitate.

[@philippajoy4300]

What gate shall we call this. Normandygate? Ddaygate? Veterangate?

[@blurry67]

Is there a Labour plant running Sunak's campaign? 🤦‍♀

[@TheIdlesurfer]

I'm in Aylesbury. I had hoped to vote Labour and hope to have my vote count, but a Lib Dem leaflet has persuaded me to vote Lib Dem, tactically. 33 Lib Dem Councillors, 18 Tory, no Labour so yet again I vote against Tories rather than for Labour.

[@rachel.mcgowan]

Aylesbury is one of those tricky constituencies where there's no definitive anti-Tory tactical vote. But if you prefer Labour I'd reckon they are better placed to win there. Local polling (which is limited) bears this out.

[@TheIdlesurfer]

@@rachel.mcgowan I'm aware Labour came second last time round. Aylesbury could be quite Labour. We have quite a large Asian Muslim population who traditionally vote Labour (well at least they did, my older Muslim mates have kept faith with Labour, but younger Muslim acquaintances less so, I'm well into middle age and so are my social group) and Aylesbury itself is a working class London "overspill" town. I'm overspill and locals still pick up my London accent even though I did my entire schooling in Aylesbury so whilst the villages are posh, Aylesbury isn't. But the Lib Dems dominate the council, so I will see what the anti Tory voting sites advise, but my heart says vote Labour, because I'm tribally Labour, but as Labour goes towards the right of social democracy, I'm not sure there is a huge difference between the Lib Dems and Labour. I just want to see the useless, Brexity Truss fan boy incumbent sacked from his lifetime sinecure in Aylesbury.

[@Joe-og6br]

This isn't on the front page of any the right wing press. Incredible. To imagine what it would be like if Starmer had done this. (Sky The Papers)

[@pault1289]

Wise words from Ben Walker!

[@DanielJewel-e2t]

sunak insulted every world leader abd the brave allied vet's that helped save this little island nation ! Ànd the world from the German Reich!! He stated on British TV he attended some little known ceremonies on British soil so that was quite enough!!!? Nope not in my name!! Hopefully the world leaders will remember the UK Tory grassroots in the future when they beg for more international trade deals!! Another dark stain on a little island nation fact the Brits didn't win the war on their own facts

[@brianferguson7840]

A British Prime Minister says sorry for leaving Europe. At Last !!

[@tammypierce7479]

😂😂

[@emilymcplugger]

Yes and no. Yes, because it’s an irredeemable gaffe that he can’t come back from. And no because it was doomed anyway.

[@StevieSpiers-ru3mf]

Do you guys even speak to us, the man or woman on the street? People are enraged with Sunak. He has united the whole country against him.

[@ArtyFactual_Intelligence]

24 hours is a long time in politics. Ask the lettuce

[@albertbrammer9263]

How is Reform a political party? It has two members as far as I can tell, Farage and Tice. Or are candidates also members? Can you now join? In the past you were unable to join.

[@sensiblename295]

There's a good reason why a lot of us do not watch TV debates. They're undisciplined shouting matches and you learn very little. You go into them with your own point of view and rarely, if ever, is your mind going to be changed, only prejudices reinforced.

[@Bagofnowt]

The D-Day event has been in the diary for 80 years. Churchill would've been able to pencil that day in Sunak's diary for him in 1945. There is no excuse - purely from a cynical "I want to win an election" perspective, it's hard to understand why Cameron didn't say "sit your arse down and finish this event"

[@richardbourn5896]

The really important thing to remember with Rishi's mistake is it cuts through with people he is explicitly trying to target; older conservative people who do care about DDay and the war.

[@nickchivers9029]

Yes.

[@andrewwrench1959]

Completely agree with Ben Walker on his methodology of taking note of local council elections. Two reasons: lot of people have already voted for the challenging party that is strong at a local level, and that party literally has bodies on the ground to actually campaign. This means both a head start, and plenty of capability and individual opportunities to press the 'only challenger here' message. Constituencies where the Labour vote is exaggerated by national strength include Stratford-upon-Avon and Maidenhead, where national models are saying Tory hold because of a relatively evenly split opposition.

[@tw1sted1nc]

Ben Walker has a charming ability to cut through so much of the clutter in political coverage while still being deep in the weeds on the statistical details. A valuable voice in the current media malstorm.

[@hitchikerspie]

Really enjoying the analysis from Ben!

[@YaseenPatel-o1d]

He destroyed it long way back

[@paulmilton5935]

He knew what he was doing and was toast, But he did not care! 🤷‍♂

[@thomHD]

You see just how pro Conservative the Mail and Express are at times like this. If it had been a Labour PM it would have been all over the front pages in bold black ink.

[@samhartford8677]

Let's hope so.

[@willyum3920]

How do you know when voting is tactical?

[@juliemaddern]

No it's NOT broken beyond repair the commoners will fix it, we've started already

[@emer67]

Given his record of misjudgement I'm surprised Sunak didn't turn up in a German uniform...

[@sadjaxx]

How can a political party also be a business? How very odd. Garage OWNS the party?

[@cv990a4]

Live by FPTP, die by FPTP. This is an election where the Tories would do OK (still lose, but not risk annihilation) if they had, say, single transferable vote. But they are in the frame for annihilation because of FPTP. "In the frame" = not at all certain. The election could still break their way - not in terms of them winning, but in terms of them being comfortably a "normal" loss.

[@MelodyHoefdraad-pf7dg]

I don't actually think Sunak wants to get reelected as PM and I've been thinking that for the past couple of weeks now. He's only defending his trackrecord or legacy during this cycle and already has a cushy new job lined up in either finance or tech. He's already moved on. His stint as PM was just a career step for him in order to reach other professional aspirations.

[@EddieCochrane]

Extra points to Ben for a Georgy Malenkov reference!

[@slomas8863]

And Corbyns 'Unpatriotic' LOL

[@jeffsmith3392]

Is this the moment Reform overtakes the Tories?

[@nomore2863]

The polls before the election showed an overwhelming number wanting an election. The reason why there is little engagement is because people already know how they're going to vote and just want to do it. The area of key apathy is from Tories themselves, to try to display it as general apathy isn't entirely the full picture.

[@stuartivins7846]

Rishi Soon Out "Don't you DARE, Politicise, my appalling judgement, in abandoning 90 year old, D-Day War Veterans !"

[@debbiegale9076]

Can you imagine what the Tory press would've done if Starmer or heaven forbid Cirbyn did it

[@danydany3974]

Ben you are doing great.

[@Theforestbandit]

SUNAK DOING WHAT HE IS GOOD AT .. ONLY HALF THE JOB !!!

[@neillaw]

Not being funny, but EVERYTHING Sunak has done since announcing the election seems to have been deliberate to drive the Tories into the ground I don't particularly care about them, but it would be in their very best interest to get him out ASAP

[@chesterdonnelly1212]

It's probably too late for that.

[@neillaw]

@@chesterdonnelly1212 sooner the better, even with the election going on, there is no time too soon for the Conservative party to at least attempt to fix their party, longer they leave it the worse it gets

[@joeyrhubarb2558]

@@neillaw scrambling to find a new leader in the weeks up to a general election would ensure the tories would be annihilated as a political party

[@neillaw]

@@joeyrhubarb2558 you think keeping Sunak they aren't annihilating themselves?? Come on

[@philipmurphy9711]

New statesman is getting boring. An alien can see the tories are finished. Put another record on and get seasoned political jornos on instead of these kids. Freddie, mother is calling.

[@martineyles]

1. Propose National service 2. Leave the D-Day commemorations early What is step 3?

[@grandadbitcoin475]

Maybe done on purpose, he/they do not want to lead the country for the next 5 years. It feels to me like any means necessary, to just get out and go on holiday. Bye bye plebs.

[@leecevictoria481]

Less people watch, as people have had to sell the TV to pay the electric. Thats why.

[@caseypenk]

He destroyed his own campaign a year ago.

[@ArtyFactual_Intelligence]

At least Michael Foot bought a new Donkey Jacket from Harrods for his Cenotaph visit.

[@kevinturvey8213]

what do you mean JUST??? it should be more than obvious by now that he has absolutely NO INTENTION of winning - that's the whole point!

[@wordfromabove7176]

A lot of people I know here in Wales are paying more attention than u think. The D day disaster from sunak has really cut deep with people. It is his Gillian Duffy moment

[@danydany3974]

Keir should pull him over 2000 £ tax.

[@waynestockton8953]

We thought Farage was going to put the last nail in the Tory coffin but it ended up Sunak putting the final nail in the Tory coffin ⚰️⚰️⚰️