Sunak takes ‘unconventional’ approach to election campaign as Conservatives try to ‘manage their image’
we, Deputy Political Editor Sam Coatesis in Inverness, where Rishi Sunak arrived an hour ago.
Explaining that Scotland is the third UK country the Prime Minister is visiting today, Sam said: “Rishi Sunak knows he’s the underdog.”
“In fact, describing himself as an underdog was a big part of his campaign, which is quite unusual for a prime minister.
“But it is rather unusual for a prime minister who is trailing in the polls by 20 points to visit a country.”
He summed up the Prime Minister’s argument, saying the world was a dangerous place with uncertainty at home and abroad and voters could not afford to “turn around and vote Labour”.
What struck Sam most about campaigning today was that “these aren’t big rallies with hundreds of people.”
“These are tightly controlled events with a few dozen guests and they may be asked to speak to the prime minister. They make small talk and then the prime minister moves on.”
“Their main purpose is to generate images for television cameras.”
Sam said he travels to these out-of-town locations on private jets “that are basically paid for by private donors.”
He also said the Conservatives were “trying to manipulate their image” to make their campaign appear “lively and welcoming” when in reality they were “hiring huge spaces with proportionately fewer people in them”.
“They hope this will portray him as active and authentic, someone who is part of the community and understands people’s concerns.”
“But he’s very behind. The question is whether it will work.”
