General election 2024: ‘Sunak ditches key policies on day 1’
Almost all of Friday’s front pages report on the first day of the general election campaigning. Rishi Sunak is pictured in most papers after his disastrous election announcement.
Regardless of political leanings, many of yesterday’s newspapers agreed that the prime minister’s snap July election was a ‘gamble’. The papers, the experts, and inside sources all concluded choosing an election just 6 weeks away didn’t seem like a great course of action for a party that’s 20 points behind in the opinion polls. Many also slammed the prime minister’s decision to give the announcement outside in the rain with protesters blasting music over the prime minister – not great optics for the government.
However, the date is now set and the papers have firmly put their foot in their camps. Yesterday marked day one of the election campaigning – here’s how the papers cover it.
The left-leaning newspapers pick up on the PM’s announcement that the Rwanda flights won’t take off until after the election and the abandonment of key Tory policies on day one.
Naturally, the right-leaning newspapers have a different take on day one. The papers pick up on energy prices falling and Rishi Sunak challenging Starmer to TV debates – which the Labour leader doesn’t seem keen to do.
Here’s the papers roundup.
Left-wing newspapers offer nuanced perspectives on the election kickoff.
The Daily Mirror delves into the Prime Minister’s rocky start, highlighting a series of missteps, admissions of failure, and relentless attacks from the Conservative camp. The paper zooms in on an uncomfortable moment when PM Sunak, while conversing with brewery staff in Wales, made a reference to Euro 2024, despite Wales not qualifying for the tournament.
The Guardian captures the PM’s arrival in Scotland, framing it as an act of abandoning flagship policies. The imagery of the Prime Minister stepping off a plane at Inverness Airport serves as a visual metaphor for the perceived shift away from key governmental agendas. “Sunak begins election campaign by abandoning flagship policies,” it headlines.
The i newspaper reports on the legislative rush before the election, highlighting bills that might not make it through Parliament due to time constraints. Elsewhere, it writes allies of media Tycoon Rupert Murdoch are urging him to stop his outlets backing Labour.
The FT offers a detailed analysis of Labour’s campaign promises in Kent, contrasting them with the perceived chaos of the Tory reign. It also meticulously dissects setbacks faced by PM Sunak, portraying his initial campaign efforts as fraught with challenges and setbacks.
The Metro captures the essence of Sunak’s campaign kickoff, focusing on his admission of delays in planned migrant flights to Rwanda, showcasing the intricacies and challenges of governance.
On the other hand, right-wing newspapers highlight different aspects of the election campaign.
The Daily Express zeroes in on Sunak’s bold challenge to Labour leader Starmer for weekly TV debates until election day. It portrays Starmer as lacking the courage to engage in direct confrontation.
The Daily Mail centres its coverage on the Conservative Party’s promise to reduce green levies on fuel bills, aligning with their agenda of fiscal responsibility and economic growth.
The Times captures Sunak’s jovial demeanour at his election announcement. The paper emphasises the Conservative Party’s commitment to using net-zero policies to differentiate themselves from Labour, accusing the latter of obfuscating the true costs of their environmental agenda.
