RISHI Sunak will today warn Britain to “stick to the plan” as he kicks off months of general election campaigning.
The PM will say Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer will “go back to square one”, with “no plan, no progress” and higher taxes and borrowing.
He will begin months of travelling the country, ahead of a planned autumn ballot, with a visit to Lancashire.
But Sir Keir yesterday accused Mr Sunak of putting “vanity before country” by delaying the election until after his two-year anniversary in No10.
The Labour leader said the country should go to the polls sooner rather than later.
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But a No10 source hit back: “The choice is whether we stick with the plan that is starting to deliver the long-term change our country needs or go back to square one with the Labour Party.
“Where there is no plan, no progress, where taxes, debt and borrowing are increasing, and the country is going in the wrong direction.
“The PM is determined to continue to confront the difficult challenges — to govern in the national interest, not take the easy way out.”
It comes after Mr Sunak, who took over in October 2022, said it was his “working assumption” that he would call the election “in the second half of the year”.
Sir Keir hit out: “If he had a plan, he would set the date.
"And he should set the date because it is very hard to see how him continuing in government improves the lives of anybody.
“I can’t help feeling that all he really wants to do is to get two years clocked up of his own premiership — and that means he is putting vanity before country.
“And so my challenge to him would be — if you’ve got a plan, set the date. If you haven’t got a plan, just get on with it as quickly as possible.”
Sir Keir said the tax burden is too high, but would not say which taxes should be cut.
And he continued to face criticism for his pledge to invest £28billion a year until 2030 on green projects — a target that’s been watered down.
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Sir Keir said he is “absolutely” ready to defend Labour’s green pledges in a general election campaign.
Tory Party chairman Richard Holden said yesterday: “This morning Sir Keir Starmer recommitted to his 2030 energy promise.
"He was, again, not clear how he’ll pay for it.
"That can only mean thousands of pounds of higher taxes for every Briton.”
KEIR ON THE BALL
By Taryn Kaur
SIR Keir Starmer takes his eyes off the ball again — letting in a goal as his Sunday league footie side were thumped 14-8.
The Labour leader failed to get a grip between the sticks as his North London side Homerton Academicals toiled yesterday.
To cap a tough day, his beloved Arsenal later lost 2-0 to Liverpool in the FA Cup.
