Sunak Has Already Broken Key Pledges

PM Sunak seems to have a different agenda from the leadership candidate.

What does Rishi Sunak believe in? Already the Sunak who campaigned during the Conservative leadership campaign seems at odds with the man now in office as Prime Minister. That didn’t take long.

Green Party MP Caroline Lucas was delighted by Sunak’s answer to her during his debut Prime Minister’s Questions, when he seemingly ruled out any fracking.

This was backed up by confirmation afterwards from the Government that indeed the short-lived Liz Truss plan to end the bonkers ban on fracking was now being reversed.

Caroline Lucas @CarolineLucas

Yay!! A result at #PMQs! Yesterday new PM vowed to fix his reckless predecessor's mistakes. So I asked if he'll start by reversing green light she gave to #fracking. And he gave a commitment to stick with manifesto moratorium. And if he backtracks, we’ll never let him forget!

It is a blatant and bizarre u-turn given Sunak repeatedly spoke out in favour of fracking during his leadership campaign, as long as it had local consent.

Ben Riley-Smith @benrileysmith

Rishi Sunak has a challenge Is he governing on the policy platform from the 2019 Tory election manifesto? Or on the policy platform from his summer 2022 leadership bid? Take fracking. Manifesto: Ban fracking Campaign: Frack where locals approve (See clip below)

By the way, the research shows that as long as local residents are compensated, there actually is significant public support for fracking.

Redfield and Wilton found 39% in favour of fracking in their locality and only 27% against if locals got free energy.

Redfield & Wilton Strategies @RedfieldWilton

Would British voters support or oppose a fracking well in their locality if it meant they were provided with free energy and gas bills? (13 October) Support 39% Oppose 27% Neither 23% Don't know 11%

But this is just for starters. There have already been other worrying u-turns from Sunak, including on what he has previously said about Brexit moving forward.