Sunak promises to stay as MP for five years if Tories lose election

Rishi Sunak has pledged to serve a full term as an MP if the Conservatives lose the next general election – and a full term as Prime Minister if they pull off a win.

The Prime Minister has been the subject of speculation that he could quit the Commons if his party is defeated next month, even assuming he is re-elected as the MP for Richmond.

But asked today whether he could commit to staying in Parliament for a full five years, and to serving as Prime Minister for the complete term if the Tories do win, Sunak replied: “Yes and yes.”

During the 2015 election campaign, David Cameron shocked his own party by suggesting that if re-elected, he would not stay in Downing Street for a full second term.

Despite poor polls for the Conservatives, Sunak has insisted he has no plans to change his campaigning tactics.

He signalled an emphasis on pushing tax cuts, saying: “If I am re-elected there will be a tax cut for people at every stage of their lives – everyone in work, everyone who is setting up a small business or self-employed, young people who are buying their first home, young families with children, but also pensioners.

“People at every stage of their lives are going to get a tax cut, because I do think you can curb the unsustainable increase in the welfare bill, and that I think is the right choice for the country and in contrast Labour are just going to put up your taxes.”

Rishi Sunak welcomes Pope Francis ahead of a working session on Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Africa-Mediterranean on day two of the 50th G7 summit (Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

It comes as the G7 has pledged to work together to tackle illegal immigration for the first time, after Sunak declared the problem a “global emergency”.

The Prime Minister claimed that allied countries had been won over the UK’s way of thinking on migration and insisted it was necessary to step up efforts to force countries to accept their citizens who have tried to enter the West illegally.

Leaders at the G7 summit in Puglia said: “We will leverage our collective diplomatic efforts in encouraging countries to readmit their nationals, in line with their international commitments and through due processes.”

They promised to step up international data-sharing on illegal migration and to work together to disrupt people-smuggling gangs. And they added: “We also recognise the importance of raising awareness and informing potential migrants on the risks associated with migrant smuggling and trafficking in persons, to deter them from embarking on perilous routes.”

Speaking at a press conference to mark the end of the summit, Sunak said: “Illegal migration is now a global emergency. More people are moving across borders that anytime in our history. We cannot stand by and watch this human tragedy unfold.”

He claimed that “it’s very clear that the conversation in Europe has changed”, and repeated his threat to withdraw the UK from the European Convention on Human Rights if needed to deliver his anti-immigration policies.

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The Prime Minister is understood to have led the conversations on tackling illegal migration along with Georgia Meloni, the right-wing Italian leader who was hosting the summit.

Sunak also hailed efforts to step up support for Ukraine in its war effort against Russia – and suggested that a future Labour government could not be trusted to continue protecting the country.

Asked by i whether he had reassured Volodymyr Zelensky about the continuity of Britain’s support, the Conservative leader replied: “I can only assure President Zelensky about what I would do if I were Prime Minister.”

He added: “I can make that commitment to him because I’m investing more in defence. Under a Conservative government defence spending will continue to rise to 2.5 per cent of GDP and that’s why I can say to Volodymyr we will be here with you providing the same level of support for as long as it takes.”

Labour has said that it also wants to hike defence spending to 2.5 per cent, but not set out a firm timetable for doing so.

The Prime Minister suggested he would be open to Ukraine using weapons supplied by the UK to strike targets within Russia, which has previously been seen as crossing a red line.

Election 2024

Rishi Sunak, Sir Keir Starmer and other party leaders are on the campaign trail, and i’s election live blog is the go-to place for everything on the general election.

On Monday, the Lib Dems launched their manifesto, followed by the Tory manifesto launch on Tuesday, which included a further cut to national insurance. On Wednesday, the Green Party launched its manifesto, which it hopes will secure them some important seats.

Labour’s manifesto launch on Thursday was interrupted by a protester urging for more policies for youth, but Starmer was undeterred as he announced changes to voting age and confirmed his party’s position on tax and spending cuts.

i has urged the parties to commit to its Save Britain’s Rivers manifesto to improve our waterways. The Lib Dems became the first to back the campaign, followed by the Green Party.