British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said people cannot expect the state to “fix everyone’s problems” as he looks to regain public trust by being honest about the extent of the economic difficulties ahead.
In anĀ interviewĀ with The Times, Sunak said he recognisedĀ people’sĀ anxiety about soaring mortgage repayments and said he would do “absolutely everything” he could to “grip this problem”.Ā But heĀ made clear there was a limit to government intervention.
“It’s right we’re honest about the trade-offs we face ā everyone now talks about borrowing, everyone appreciates that the government cannot do everything,” Sunak told the newspaper.
Sunak declined toĀ comment onĀ whether he stood by the Tory manifesto pledge not to raise income tax, VAT or national insurance, according to the report. “I’m not going to talk about any tax policy at all,” he said.
AskedĀ whetherĀ he considered the offer of a joint ticket with Boris Johnson inĀ the party’s latest leadership election, SunakĀ said he had beenĀ “very clear with (Johnson) about the fact I had strong support from colleagues in parliament and I thought I was the best person to do the job.”
Sunak became Britain’s first prime minister of colour last month,Ā taking overĀ during one of the most turbulent eras in British political history.
(Reuters)
