British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has sought to convince his party colleagues that he is the man who can fundamentally change the country. But the Prime Minister appears to be less successful in this regard, says British correspondent Lia van Bekhoven. ‘Because there is an election at the end of next year and the Conservative Party itself expects to lose the election, the atmosphere is quite tense.’

According to Van Bekhoven, Sunak’s important speech was delivered at the Conservative Party’s party conference, because the prime minister’s performance is not good in terms of popularity and it is likely that an election will be held at the end of next year. ‘Between the lines, you can see that everything in this party conference reflects that.’

Men for the long haul

Sunak presented himself at the party conference as a long-term figure and also outlined a long list of new long-term policy initiatives. “He wants voters to see him as a person who is not out of control and a person who can change,” Van Bekhoven said.

And that may be a difficult image to get into the minds of British voters, thinks Van Bekhoven. After all, Sunak represents a party that has been in power for thirteen years and, according to opinion polls, voters are fed up with the party. I think that’s why he wants to show that he has the courage to make difficult decisions.”

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Termination of the high-speed line between the North and South of England

According to Van Bekhoven, the most difficult decision Sunak has tried to profile was halting construction of the HS2 high-speed line between the north and south of England, which has become a political symbol for upgrading former industrial areas in the north. from England. ‘One prime minister after another has promised that this line is necessary to provide economic space in the north of the country. But costs are so out of control that Sunak believes he cannot justify pouring in tens of billions more.’

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The consequence of the decision is that a large number of voters in the North of England will feel betrayed, Van Bekhoven thinks. They had voted for Boris Johnson in large numbers at the previous election in 2019, in the hope that the Conservative Party under his leadership would help breathe new economic life into the North of England, which also needs these high-speed lines. “And now nothing will happen.”

Speculation continues about Sunak’s succession

It is difficult to say to what extent Sunak still retains control over his own party. “Because there is an election at the end of next year and the Conservative Party itself expects to lose, the atmosphere is a bit paralyzed,” Van Bekhoven said. ‘As if Sunak’s days are numbered.’

There is also speculation about who will replace the prime minister if he loses next year’s election and what direction the party should take. “So in this case it’s as if this whole conference happened outside of the Prime Minister’s control.”