Mirror news informed of an uncomfortable turn of events for Rishi Sunak who faced a barrage of disapproval as he left a café in Greater Manchester. The Prime Minister’s visit to a Tory constituency for a friendly gathering with Conservative members and local activists took an unexpected turn when members of the public on the street opposite began booing and shouting calls for his resignation.
As reported by the Manchester Evening News, the scene unfolded with chants of “leave now” and “Sunak out” echoing loudly. The Prime Minister, quick to navigate the discontent, swiftly made his way around the corner to escape in a Range Rover.
By Mirror, the humiliating experience of the Prime Minister came following accusations earlier in the day, where Sunak was criticized for allegedly refusing to meet the voters and being accused of “running scared” because of a crowded photo from his recent campaign visit to the east Midlands.
The choice of venue for the meeting, La Dolce Vita Restaurant in the Hazel Grove constituency, held by Conservative MP William Wragg since May 2015, was a challenging one. The constituency, considered marginal for the Tories, with a slim majority of just 4,423 from the 2019 general election, added to the political tension surrounding Sunak’s visit.
The public, who were discontent reportedly seemed to be rooted in broader dissatisfaction with the Conservative government, as two-thirds of the public wanted Sunak to call a general election by the summer.
This reflects a desire to cast a verdict on almost 14 years of Tory rule. Despite the mounting pressure, the Prime Minister expressed his working assumption to trigger the vote in the second half of 2024.
However, some critics have accused Sunak of not doing anything in Downing Street, claiming that there has been a lack of progress on the economy. The Prime Minister’s focus on intimate question-and-answer sessions, seemingly excluding traditional media, has led to frustration among some in No 10.
They reportedly argue that Sunak’s economic efforts deserve more praise, a sentiment he aims to convey as he makes his case to the voters. The Prime Minister has to figure out a way of gaining the trust and confidence of everyone, but one wonders what actions he has to take towards achieving that
