Rishi Sunak received a surprise boost on Tuesday night when former Prime Minister Boris Johnson came to his defense at a small Conservative election rally in London. The two had been on bad terms, and Johnson had stayed away from the campaign. However, his sudden appearance was seen as a sign of support for Sunak, who is facing tough competition from Labour leader Keir Starmer in the upcoming general election.
In his speech, Johnson attacked Labour’s policies and urged voters to choose between higher taxes or uncontrolled immigration and unnecessary kowtowing to Brussels. Despite being absent for six weeks, Johnson remains popular among a section of the right-wing electorate and has a history of winning elections.
Sunak is the fifth Prime Minister in 14 years of Conservative power, a period marked by Brexit, Covid, austerity, scandals, and divisions within the “Tories.” He is working hard to avoid a landslide victory by Labour in Thursday’s general election. If Labour wins 453 seats to the Conservatives’ 115, it will represent a landslide majority of 256 seats for the British left. This result would surpass the majority won by Tony Blair in 1997 and be considered historic.
Both candidates are devoting their final hours of campaigning to persuade voters before polling stations open at 8am on Thursday morning. The results will not be known until late into the night on Thursday or early Friday morning if you are like those English people who are passionate about French politics.