Rishi Sunak's campaign to stay British PM showed his lack of political touch
Rishi Sunak's campaign to remain Britain's prime minister showed a lack of political touch.
The Conservative Party's problems were grave before Friday's resounding election defeat but missteps by Britain's richest prime minister contributed to its defeat.
Predecessors such as Tony Blair and Boris Johnson were more politically astute and able to connect with voters. As for Sunak, he didn't have to call the election until Jan. 2025. He defied political advice by doing so in May — with Conservative support dwindling steadily amid an economic slump, ethics scandals and a revolving door of leaders over the last two years — and announced the July 4 date in the pouring rain.
What's more, the Conservative Party didn't appear ready for the campaign compared with Labour, and voters haven't really felt the improvement in Britain's economy yet.
«I have heard your anger, your disappointment, and I take responsibility for this loss,» Sunak said in his final speech as prime minister outside the residence at 10 Downing St.
Arguably, Sunak's biggest blunder — one that prompted him to apologize and which many analysts think was the final death knell of the Conservative Party's campaign — was his decision to leave early from the 80-year D-day commemorations in northern France on June 6.
Critics said the decision to skip the international event that closed the commemorations showed disrespect to the veterans and diminished the U.K.'s international standing. Other world leaders including President Joe Biden, French President
