RISHI Sunak urged voters to question Sir Keir Starmer’s integrity as he set the stage for a fierce election showdown with the Labour boss.
With the general election set for July 4, the PM launched a blistering attack on Sir Keir, casting doubt on his principles and leadership qualities.
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He accused the Labour leader of being willing to do anything to seize power, asking the public how he can “possibly be trusted” given his record.
The PM’s comments came as he announced the date of the general election under the pouring rain outside Downing Street.
Framing the election as a direct contest between the two leaders, Mr Sunak said: “On July 5, either Keir Starmer or I will be prime minister.
“He has shown time and time again that he will take the easy way out and do anything to get power.
“I have to say, if he was happy to abandon all the promises he made to become Labour leader once he got the job, how can you know that he won’t do exactly the same thing if he were to become prime minister?
“If you don’t have the conviction to stick to anything you say, if you don’t have the courage to tell people what you want to do, and if you don’t have a plan, how can you possibly be trusted to lead our country, especially at this most uncertain of times?”
Speaking shortly after the PM’s announcement, Sir Keir said a vote for Labour was a vote for stability.
“If they get another five years they will feel entitled to carry on exactly as they are. Nothing will change,” the Labour leader said.
“A vote for Labour is a vote for stability, economic and political, a politics that treads more lightly on all our lives. A vote to stop the chaos.”
The two leaders are expected to go head-to-head in multiple live television debates in the run-up to the July 4 general election.
Last week, the PM said he is happy debate the Labour leader “as many times as he likes”.
Sir Keir has said of the prospect of TV debates: “Bring it on.”
Broadcasters have been in negotiations with the parties for months about the format of the debates.
