‘We’re not going away’: PM delivers ‘simple’ message for Putin at G7 summit

Rishi Sunak has given a “straightforward” message for Vladimir Putin on the G7 summit: “We’re not going away.”

Speaking to Sky News in Hiroshima, the prime minister had prepared solutions for his coverage and place on Ukraine.

Hours earlier, he had introduced a ban on imports of Russian diamonds – and informed me that he believes different G7 international locations will observe swimsuit this weekend.

“Russia needs to know that we and other countries are steadfast in our resolve to support Ukraine, not just in the here and now with the resources it needs to protect itself, but for the long term as well,” the PM mentioned.

Ukraine war latest: ‘Remarkable development’ means Russia ‘has never looked weaker’

Mr Sunak repeatedly refused to decide to decreasing total web migration under the 504,000 determine for the yr to June 2022, saying: “What I can commit is that we want to bring those levels down.”

In 2019 the Conservative Party promised in its manifesto to carry total web migration figures down from the then 226,000 in 2019.

But throughout this parliament, web migration has continued to rise to report ranges – and is about to go even larger nonetheless.

Figures to be launched subsequent week are set to point out numbers rising from 650,000 to simply shy of 1 million, which can pile stress on the prime minister.

Of course, Mr Sunak is loathed to decide to a determine as a result of he does not know if he can maintain the pledge – his motto in spite of everything is to ship on guarantees, and do not promise what you possibly can’t ship.

But additionally it is an admission that, having did not hit the final manifesto goal of driving web migration all the way down to under 226,000, he cannot even decide to driving it again previous half one million, which can give Labour a number of political ammunition to fireside on the prime minister going right into a common election marketing campaign.

Mr Sunak saved rounding again to his plans to deal with unlawful migration and cease small boat crossings in our interview – in all probability as a result of he is aware of that is the place key goal voters will wish to see progress from the PM – however he should know too that prime ranges of migration and breaking the 2019 manifesto pledge places him in a decent spot with the general public.

The PM mentioned this week of his election prospects that he is assured he can win the subsequent common election, however you possibly can’t assist however marvel if he is nonetheless reeling from the huge local election losses earlier this month that noticed the Conservatives lose over 1,000 councillors.

Read extra:
Rishi Sunak refuses to stick to Johnson’s net migration pledge
‘Share your secrets about Ukraine war,’ CIA tells Russians

This in spite of everything is a person of nice success – head boy at his public boarding faculty, a self-made millionaire and profitable businessman who went into politics and have become PM.

But after I requested him how he feels when he loses, he seemed a bit stumped and requested me what I meant.

When I requested him once more how he felt when he did not win, he trotted out the identical line he gave on the morning of the native elections – “it’s always disappointing to lose hard-working councillors”.

In reality, the prime minister was fairly robotic in our interview at occasions.

Eight occasions in our nine-minute alternate, Mr Sunak referred to his “five priorities”.

He went on to record these priorities on 4 separate events in our dialog after I pressed him on native elections and the price of residing disaster.

On the world stage, this can be a chief who’s delivering, be it the brand new bilateral Hiroshima settlement with Japan to deepen financial, safety and technological ties between London and Tokyo, or the brand new set of sanctions in opposition to Russia.

And Mr Sunak shall be given an additional increase on this entrance over the weekend as President Zelenskyy of Ukraine arrives in Japan to face shoulder-to-shoulder together with his allies in opposition to Russian aggression.

But again dwelling, plainly his message to voters on his five-point plan to “halve inflation, growth the economy, reduce debt, cut waiting lists and stop the boats” appears to be falling on deaf ears, nevertheless many occasions he chooses to say it.

No 10 is betting that if he manages to show these guarantees into actual motion for voters, they could give the Conservatives one other look.

But after seven months in energy, the polls aren’t shifting in his favour – and what’s clear is that there is not a Plan B.