- Wednesday, March 12, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
FORMER British chancellor Rishi Sunak, who on Tuesday (12) marked the official launch of his Conservative Party leadership bid with a speech in which he pledged a “positive campaign” that will not indulge in demonising outgoing British prime minister Boris Johnson.
Sunak, a 42-year-old UK-born Indian-origin politician, said he had disagreements with his former political boss but also praised the latter as someone who has a good heart.
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“Boris Johnson is one of the most remarkable people I’ve ever met. And, whatever some commentators may say, he has a good heart,” Sunak said in his campaign launch speech in London.
“Did I disagree with him? Frequently. Is he flawed? Yes – and so are the rest of us. Was it no longer working? Yes, and that’s why I resigned. But let me be clear, I will have no part in a rewriting of history that seeks to demonise Boris, exaggerate his faults or deny his efforts,” he said.
Johnson resigned as the Conservative Party leader on July 7 following an unprecedented mutiny from within his Cabinet in the wake of a series of scandals that rocked his government, triggering a leadership election for a new Tory leader who will go on to become his successor in September.
Among some of the major members of his government who left it were Sunak.
In an indirect reference to some reports over the weekend of damaging briefings and an alleged “dirty dossier” doing the rounds of the Tory groups, Sunak said: “I am running a positive campaign focused on what my leadership can offer our party and our country.
“I will not engage in the negativity that some of you may have seen and read in the media. If others wish to do that, then let them. That’s not who we are, we can be better.”
On the issue that is seen as central to the leadership race, Sunak reiterated that as a former finance minister he is determined to steer the economy in the right direction but would not be making fairy tale promises on lowering taxes right away. “We need a return to traditional Conservative economic values and that means honesty and responsibility, not fairy tales. It is not credible to promise lots more spending and lower taxes,” he said, as a clear counter-attack to some of his rivals who have promised tax cuts.
“So, that is my plan: tackle inflation, grow the economy and cut taxes. It is a long-term approach that will deliver long-term gains for families and businesses across the United Kingdom. I am prepared to give everything I have in service to our nation, to restore trust, rebuild our economy, and reunite the country,” Sunak said.
His speech came as he received the endorsement of a senior Tory figure, deputy prime minister Dominic Raab, and also transport secretary Grant Shapps – who withdrew his own leadership bid to throw his weight behind the former finance minister.
Opening the campaign launch event, Raab said: “I know that Rishi has got what it takes…to provide the leadership that we need to steer the country through tough economic times.”
With the backing of the requisite 20 Tory MPs, Sunak – the member of Parliament for Richmond in Yorkshire since 2015 – continues to be the frontrunner in the race and is confirmed for the first round of knockout votes set for Wednesday (13).
