Sunak told to 'go for the jugular' to save struggling campaign with more attacks on Starmer - The Independent

Rishi Sunak has been told to launch a more aggressive campaign against Keir Starmer if he wants to save his flagging bid to become the next Prime Minister. Sunak's campaign is facing mounting pressure after a series of setbacks in recent weeks, including a lukewarm performance in the first televised debate and a string of negative headlines. A number of Conservative MPs have privately expressed concerns about Sunak's lack of momentum, with some suggesting that he is not doing enough to attack Starmer. They argue that Sunak needs to go on the offensive and expose Starmer's weaknesses if he wants to win over voters. Sunak's campaign has so far focused on his economic credentials, with the former Chancellor emphasizing his experience in managing the UK economy during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, some commentators have suggested that this strategy is not working, as voters are more concerned about issues such as the cost of living crisis and the NHS. One senior Tory MP said that Sunak needs to "go for the jugular" and "stop being so nice" to Starmer. The MP added that Sunak needs to "get tough" and "show voters that he has the backbone to lead the country". The call for a more aggressive campaign comes as Sunak is facing mounting pressure from both inside and outside the Conservative Party. A number of Tory MPs are already backing Penny Mordaunt, who is seen as a more charismatic and popular figure within the party. Sunak's campaign is also facing pressure from the Labour Party, which is increasingly confident of winning the next general election. Labour leader Keir Starmer has been praised for his performance in recent weeks, with some commentators suggesting that he is already a more popular figure than Sunak. Sunak's campaign is now facing a difficult choice. They can either stick to their current strategy, which has so far failed to gain momentum, or they can take a more aggressive approach and risk alienating voters. The decision will ultimately come down to whether Sunak is willing to play dirty in order to win.

Summary

"Rishi Sunak's campaign for Prime Minister is facing increasing pressure and is urged to adopt a more aggressive strategy to save his flagging bid. The campaign is encouraged to launch more attacks on Keir Starmer and expose his weaknesses to gain momentum and win over voters. While Sunak has focused on his economic experience, some believe this strategy isn't resonating with voters concerned about other issues. The decision to become more aggressive comes with a risk of alienating voters but could be the only way to salvage the campaign."

Updated at: 06.19.2024