Rishi Sunak will admit that the Labour Party “tapped into the public’s desire for change” in his response to the King’s Speech on Wednesday, urging his successor as prime minister to “deliver” on his commitments.
Speaking at the opposition despatch box for the second time since the election, Sunak will vow to lead an effective opposition guided by Conservative principles.
The Conservative Party leader, serving on an interim basis, will also pledge not to “oppose for the sake of it”.
But he will add: “When we disagree with what the government is doing, it is our responsibility as the opposition to say so.”
Highest number of MPs ever take secular affirmation
MDU urges new government to reform healthcare regulation to boost morale
Sunak will stress the importance of government’s duty to defend the United Kingdom, calling on the prime minister to commit to spending 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2030 — a policy he championed in government and will accuse Labour of scrapping.
The Conservative leader will also note Labour’s election pledge not to raise taxes on working people, citing this as a key issue his party will now scrutinise Keir Starmer over.
***Politics.co.uk is the UK’s leading digital-only political website. Subscribe to our daily newsletter for all the latest election news and analysis.***
The King’s Speech on Wednesday — the first Speech from the Throne under a Labour government in 14 years — is expected to feature a heavy emphasis on securing economic growth, the first of Keir Starmer’s five “missions for national renewal”.
During the first King’s Speech of its tenure, the new Labour government will unveil more than 35 bills, with legislation expected on spending rules, clean energy, border security and planning reform.
It will be the most significant event of Keir Starmer’s premiership so far, following Labour’s historic victory in the general election earlier this month.
In the wake of that election — which saw the Conservatives suffer a landslide loss — Rishi Sunak’s party boasts only 121 MPs, down 251.
The Conservative vote also dropped from 13.9 million at the last election in 2019 to just 6.8 million.
Speaking on the morning after the election result, Sunak confirmed that he will resign as Conservative leader — but only when arrangements are in place to choose his successor.
Addressing the nation for the last time as PM, Sunak said: “Following this result, I will step down as party leader, not immediately, but once the formal arrangements for selecting my successor are in place.”
The former prime minister has since unveiled an interim shadow cabinet, drawn from the greatly diminished pool of 121 Tory MPs. Sunak’s top opposition team will play a major role in the King’s Speech debates set to follow the Speech from the Throne on Wednesday.
Last week, Sunak addressed the House of Commons for the first time as the leader of the opposition, congratulating the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, on his re-election.
In his speech, the former PM also reflected on his election loss, offering an apology to those Conservative MPs who lost their seats. The former prime minister went on to congratulate his successor. “In our politics, we can argue vigorously, as the PM and I did over the past six weeks, but still respect each other”, he said.
In his address at the despatch box following the King’s Speech, therefore, Rishi Sunak will deliver his most openly political message since the election.
He is set to say: “In the national interest, we will serve as an effective opposition. We will not oppose for the sake of it, but when we disagree with what the government is doing, it is our responsibility as the opposition to say so.
“What will guide us will be our principles: sound public finances, a belief that people know how to spend their own money better than governments do, that private enterprise—not state intervention—is the key to delivering growth and prosperity. Public services that work for those who need them, an education system that gives everyone the best start in life, secure borders, and a strong national defence.
“The party opposite tapped into the public’s desire for change. But they must now deliver change: and we on this side of the House will hold them accountable for delivering on the commitments they made to the British people.
“The Labour Party promised no tax rises on working people and no plans for tax rises beyond what’s in their manifesto, in full knowledge of the public finances. They can’t now claim that things are worse than they thought and renege on these pledges. We will hold the government to its own promises.”
Josh Self is Editor of Politics.co.uk, follow him on X/Twitter here.
Politics.co.uk is the UK’s leading digital-only political website. Subscribe to our daily newsletter for all the latest election news and analysis.
