Rishi Sunak vows to scrap hated 20mph zones in Wales

By Martyn Brown, Deputy Political Editor

Rishi Sunak (Image: Getty)

Rishi Sunak has urged voters not to let Labour “waltz into office without scrutinising them”.

Speaking at the launch of the Welsh Conservative manifesto, the Prime Minister hit out at Sir Keir Starmer’s “constant U-turns”.

“Do not let Labour waltz into office without scrutinising them,” he said.

“Do you really know what you’re going to get with Labour?”

He said a “government must make long-term decisions” but asked how Labour could when they have “changed their mind” on major issues.

On Sir Keir, Mr Sunak said: “Because he has such a past, he doesn’t deserve to decide your future.”

Rishi Sunak has urged the public not to “sleepwalk to July 4”, adding the General Election was “not a by-election”.

Speaking at the launch of the Conservatives’ manifesto for Wales, the Prime Minister said: “I warn you, don’t fall into Labour’s trap, don’t sleepwalk to July 4.

“I know you want to send us a message, but this is not a by-election. It will determine who governs our country for the next five years and potentially much longer.

“For if Labour get in they will change the rules so it’s much harder to ever get them out. They want to give 16-year-olds a vote not because on principle they think that they are adults, but because they think they’ll vote for them.

“Once they have got power they will change every rule to make sure that they keep it. We can’t let that happen, friends, and it’s only we Conservatives who can stop it.”

Conceding that voters had “frustrations” with the Government, Mr Sunak added: “I have heard you, but once you have handed Keir Starmer and Labour a blank cheque, you cannot get it back.”

The Prime Minister would not be drawn into whether he was aware of further Conservative candidates or party officials who had placed a bet on the date of the General Election.

Asked if he was aware of more Tories who may have placed such a bet, Rishi Sunak told journalists at the Welsh Conservative manifesto launch: “There is not much more I can add to what I have said previously.

"There are multiple investigations that are currently happening.

“It is right that those investigations are allowed to proceed. They are independent, they are necessarily confidential, as you will appreciate.”

He added: “What I can tell you is, as I said, if anyone is found to have broken the rules, they should not only face the full consequences of the law, but I will ensure that they are booted out of the Conservative Party too.”