With UK polls looming, PM Sunak has work cut out to earn voters’ trust

[LONDON] Rishi Sunak – the first Asian to become Britain’s prime minister – has, in the eyes of many voters and political analysts, proven himself to be a pragmatic and fairly competent technocrat since taking over from the much-maligned Liz Truss a year ago.

But while he has delivered a decent report card since occupying 10 Downing Street, the latest opinion polls suggest that he doesn’t have enough support ahead of the next general election that is expected to take place in the second half of 2024.

Shortly after succeeding Truss, Sunak – the UK’s youngest prime minister since William Pitt 200 years ago – promised to deliver what he termed as “experienced, disciplined, focused leadership” and a “stable, competent government”. He has partly carried out those ambitious pledges in his relatively short stint in office.