RISHI Sunak has mounted a fierce fightback by unveiling a series of pledges to “give the country what it so sorely needs”.
In a packed conference speech yesterday, the PM axed the northern leg of HS2, announced a future smoking ban and plans to scrap A-Levels in favour of a new qualification.
Raising the roof in Manchester, Mr Sunak declared: “We will be bold, we will be radical, we will face resistance and we will meet it. Be no doubt it is time for a change – and we are it.”
The Tory leader also vowed to take a "common sense" approach to trans issues that refuses to be "bullied" by woke critics.
The personal speech saw Mr Sunak introduced by his wife and “best friend” Akshata Murthy and speak of his “pride” in being elected the first British Asian PM.
Read our Rishi Sunak Live Blog below for the latest news and updates…
- By Henry Moore
Rishi Sunak is ‘fighting for his values’, says wife
Akshata Murty said she often reminds her husband Rishi Sunak that he is “fighting for his values” and for “this party’s values”.
She told the Tory party conference yesterday: “Sometimes when the going gets tough, I remind Rishi that he’s fighting for his values, that he’s fighting for this party’s values, knowing that it’s a hard road ahead. That success is hard won.
“Rishi you know this, you know that doing the right thing for the long-term, even when it’s hard, is the right thing to do. And I hope you also know how proud you make our girls and me every single day.”
- By Henry Moore
Sun political editor: Party faithful loved HS2 pledge – but unsure on smoking
The Sun’s political editor Harry Cole took the temperature in the hall during Rishi Sunak’s speech.
He said the announcement to divert HS2 funding to local projects went down a storm.
But he adds: “But will voters buy it? He just announced the duelling of the A1 which has been promised by multiple Tory PMs for years – and never happened.”
By contrast, there was a “mixed response” to the pledge to ban the next generation smoking.
- By Henry Moore
When did Rishi Sunak become Prime Minister?
Mr Sunak became Prime Minister on October 25, 2022.
He was previously appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer from February 2020 to July 2022.
Prior to this, he was Chief Secretary to the Treasury from July 2019 to February 2020, and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government from January 2018 to July 2019.
Mr Sunak is the MP for Richmond (Yorks).
- By Henry Moore
Sunak: No more rip-off degrees
Rishi Sunak has vowed to crack down on “rip off” degrees that saddle students with crippling debt for not enough benefits.
He also hailed apprenticeships as one of the best routes into work.
This came as Mr Sunak announced a wave of changes to Britain’s education system.
- By Henry Moore
What did Rishi say about smoking?
Mr Sunak told the Conservative party conference in Manchester that “a 14-year-old today will never legally be sold a cigarette,” under new legislation.
“If we are to do the right thing for our kids, we must try and stop teenagers taking up cigarettes in the first place,” he said.
“Because without a significant change thousands of children will start smoking in the coming years and have their lives cut short as a result.”
He added: “I propose that in future we raise the smoking age by one year every year.
“That means a 14-year-old today will never legally be sold a cigarette and that they and their generation can grow up smoke free.”
- By Henry Moore
‘Time for change and we are it’
Rishi Sunak ended his first conference speech as PM by telling Brits “It’s time for change and we are it.”
He was met with rapturous applause by his fellow party members.
Among the announcements on Wednesday were huge changes to smoking, education and the scrapping of the northern section of HS2.
- By Henry Moore
What did Rishi Sunak say on tax cuts?
On the economy, Rishi Sunak promised that he WILL deliver tax cuts – but didn’t specify when.
He said inflation has to come down further first.
“I know you want tax cuts, I want them too and we will deliver them.
“But the best tax cut we can give people right now is to halve inflation and ease the cost of living.”
- By Henry Moore
Rishi outlines plans to support the NHS in massive conference speech
Rishi Sunak announced plans to train more doctors at the Tory Party conference in Manchester.
Taking to X, he wrote: “Britain hasn’t trained enough doctors and nurses for decades now.
“The result: the NHS either hiring staff from abroad or paying agency workers.
“We’re ending that with the first ever long-term workforce plan. It doubles the number of students training to be doctors and nurses.”
- By Henry Moore
Rishi Sunak ‘wrong’ to scrap HS2, claims David Cameron
Former PM David Cameron called the decision to scrap HS2’s northern section “wrong” today.
Taking to X, he wrote: “Today’s decision on HS2 is the wrong one. It will help to fuel the views of those who argue that we can no longer think or act for the long-term as a country; that we are heading in the wrong direction.
“HS2 was about investing for the long-term, bringing the country together, ensuring a more balanced economy and delivering the Northern Powerhouse.
“Today’s announcement throws away fifteen years of cross-party consensus, sustained over six administrations, and will make it much harder to build consensus for any future long-term projects.”
- By Henry Moore
Rishi Sunak slams Sir Keir Starmer
Speaking at the Tory Party conference today, Rishi Sunak savaged Sir Keir Starmer.
He said: "You just cannot know what you are going to get with him. The only thing that's certain is that it won't be what he is promising you.
"But the worst thing about Sir Keir is that he just says whatever he thinks will benefit him the most. Doesn't matter whether he can deliver it, doesn't matter if it's true. It doesn't matter if he said the opposite just a few weeks or months ago.
"He is the walking definition of the 30-year political status quo I am here to end. That is why we have to beat him and, conference, that is why we will."
- By Henry Moore
Rishi Sunak is 'fighting for his values', says wife
Akshata Murty said she sometimes reminds her husband Rishi Sunak that he is "fighting for his values" and for "this party's values".
She told the Tory party conference: "Sometimes when the going gets tough, I remind Rishi that he's fighting for his values, that he's fighting for this party's values, knowing that it's a hard road ahead. That success is hard won.
"Rishi you know this, you know that doing the right thing for the long-term, even when it's hard, is the right thing to do. And I hope you also know how proud you make our girls and me every single day."
- By Henry Moore
Sun political editor: Party faithful loved HS2 pledge – but unsure on smoking
The Sun's political editor Harry Cole took the temperature in the hall during Rishi Sunak's speech.
He said the announcement to divert HS2 funding to local projects went down a storm.
But he adds: "But will voters buy it? He just announced the duelling of the A1 which has been promised by multiple Tory PMs for years – and never happened."
By contrast there was a "mixed response" to the pledge to ban the next generation smoking.
- By Henry Moore
Sunak receives round of applause as he weighs in on gender debate
Tory MPs gave Rishi Sunak a round of applause after the PM gave his firmest stance on the gender debate yet.
He said: "We shouldn't get bullied into believing that people can be any sex they want to be. They can't.
"A man is a man and a woman is a woman – that's just common sense."
- By Henry Moore
Sunak: No more rip-off degrees
Rishi Sunak has vowed to crack down on "rip off" degrees that saddle students with crippling debt for not enough benefits.
He also hailed apprenticeships as one of the best routes into work.
This came as Mr Sunak announced a wave of changes to Britain's education system.
- By Henry Moore
What did Rishi say about smoking?
Mr Sunak told the Conservative party conference in Manchester that "a 14-year-old today will never legally be sold a cigarette," under new legislation.
"If we are to do the right thing for our kids, we must try and stop teenagers taking up cigarettes in the first place," he said.
"Because without a significant change thousands of children will start smoking in the coming years and have their lives cut short as a result."
He added: "I propose that in future we raise the smoking age by one year every year.
"That means a 14-year-old today will never legally be sold a cigarette and that they and their generation can grow up smoke free."
- By Henry Moore
‘Time for change and we are it’
Rishi Sunak ended his first conference speech as PM by telling Brits “It’s time for change and we are it.”
He was met with rapturous applause by his fellow party members.
Among the announcements today were huge changes to smoking, education and the scrapping of HS2.
- By Henry Moore
What did Rishi Sunak say on tax cuts?
On the economy, Rishi Sunak promised that he WILL deliver tax cuts – but didn’t specify when.
He said inflation has to come down further first.
“I know you want tax cuts, I want them too and we will deliver them.
“But the best tax cut we can give people right now is to halve inflation and ease the cost of living.”
- By Henry Moore
Rishi outlines plans to support the NHS in massive conference speech
Rishi Sunak announced plans to train more doctors at the Tory Party conference in Manchester.
Taking to X, he wrote: "Britain hasn’t trained enough doctors and nurses for decades now.
"The result: the NHS either hiring staff from abroad or paying agency workers.
"We’re ending that with the first ever long-term workforce plan. It doubles the number of students training to be doctors and nurses."
- By Henry Moore
Rishi Sunak ‘wrong’ to scrap HS2, claims David Cameron
Former PM David Cameron called the decision to scrap HS2’s northern section “wrong” today.
Taking to X, he wrote: “Today’s decision on HS2 is the wrong one. It will help to fuel the views of those who argue that we can no longer think or act for the long-term as a country; that we are heading in the wrong direction.
“HS2 was about investing for the long-term, bringing the country together, ensuring a more balanced economy and delivering the Northern Powerhouse.
“Today’s announcement throws away fifteen years of cross-party consensus, sustained over six administrations, and will make it much harder to build consensus for any future long-term projects.”
- By Henry Moore
Andy Street shares thoughts on today's HS2 announcement
Andy Street, the Conservative mayor for the West Midlands, has shared a statement on X following Rishi Sunak's decision to scrap the northern section of HS2.
Street had been a vocal supporter of the project and reports had suggested he may quit the party if it was scrapped.
However, today he confirmed he would stay in his position.
He added: "The PM said emphatically today that the Manchester leg of HS2 was cancelled, but delusion or not I believe through this work a high-speed link between Birmingham and Manchester can be revived.
"Crucially, the private sector companies I have on board feel the same."
- By Henry Moore
Rishi Sunak sends rousing message to voters in Tory conference speech
Rishi Sunak closed his first Tory conference as PM with a rousing finish.
He said: “We will be bold, we will be radical, we will face resistance and we will meet it.
“We will give the country what it so sorely needs and yet too often has been denied.
“A government prepared to make long term decisions so that we can build a brighter future for everyone. Be no doubt it is time for a change – and we are it.”
- By Henry Moore
Labour slams decision to scrap HS2
Labour's Shadow Transport Secretary has slammed Rishi Sunak's decision to scrap the northern end of HS2.
Sunak announced today that his government would instead spend £36billion on other northern transport projects.
Louise Haigh said: "This staggering Tory fiasco has seen costs soar and the North and Midlands are left to pay the price.
"Only after 13 years of dismal failure could the Conservatives make the centrepiece of their conference a re-announcement of promises the Conservatives have made before.
"Is there anything more emblematic of 13 years of dismal failure by this broken government than their flagship levelling-up project that fails to even reach the North?
"What started as a modern infrastructure plan left by the last Labour government has, after 13 years of incompetence, waste, and broken promises, become a colossal symbol of Conservative failure."
- By Henry Moore
Do you agree with Rishi's plan to end smoking?
Today, Rishi Sunak announced a massive plan to make sure young Brits never have the choice to pick up smoking.
Mr Sunak told the Conservative party conference in Manchester that “a 14-year-old today will never legally be sold a cigarette,” under new legislation.
“If we are to do the right thing for our kids, we must try and stop teenagers taking up cigarettes in the first place,” he said.
“Because without a significant change thousands of children will start smoking in the coming years and have their lives cut short as a result.”
He added: “I propose that in future we raise the smoking age by one year every year.
“That means a 14-year-old today will never legally be sold a cigarette and that they and their generation can grow up smoke free.”
- By Henry Moore
All the latest on Rishi's announcements
Here is all the latest news following Rishi Sunak's huge speech today:
- Scrapping the Manchester leg of HS2 and instead investing £36bn in transport infrastructure across the Midlands and North
- Banning smoking so no one aged 14 and under will ever be able to legally purchase a cigarette
- Axing A-Levels and replacing the exams with a new qualification combining A-Levels and T-Levels
- Promising to deliver tax cuts as soon as inflation comes down
- Doing "whatever it takes" to stop the boats
When did Rishi Sunak become Prime Minister?
Mr Sunak became Prime Minister on October 25, 2022.
He was previously appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer from February 2020 to July 2022.
Prior to this, he was Chief Secretary to the Treasury from July 2019 to February 2020, and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government from January 2018 to July 2019.
Mr Sunak is the MP for Richmond (Yorks).
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