Rishi Sunak U-turn tracker – all the new Prime Minister’s screeching changes
Rishi Sunak has only been in No10 for a short time but he has already been forced into a number of screeching U-turns.
Like his predecessors Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, the new Prime Minister has shown he isn’t averse to ripping up key commitments.
Mr Sunak backtracked on his decision to snub COP27 – a major climate summit in Egypt – after facing a huge backlash for pulling out.
His aides have also revealed all the leadership promises he made to Tory members in the summer are now up for review – paving the way for more U-turns.
Mr Sunak’s press secretary said: “On the campaign pledges we’re reviewing all of them and ensuring the right decisions are made at the right time.”
Here The Mirror looks at all of Mr Sunak’s U-turns so far.
COP27
Just days after taking office No10 said the new Prime Minister had no plans to attend the key climate summit in Egypt with other world leaders.
Downing Street had insisted the Prime Minister was instead focusing on “pressing domestic commitments” including November’s Autumn Statement.
The move prompted outrage from environmental campaigners while the UK’s COP26 President Alok Sharma even said he was “pretty disappointed”.
But in a last-minute climbdown Mr Sunak said: “I will attend COP27 next week… there is no long-term prosperity without action on climate change”.
Fracking
The Tories’ 2019 election manifesto declared that the ban on fracking would remain in place “unless the science shows categorically that it can be done safely”.
In an attempt to appeal to the Tories’ membership in the summer alongside Liz Truss, the pair both replied “yes if local communities support it ” when asked about their support for fracking.
Britain’s shortest-serving Prime Minister Ms Truss lifted the ban on fracking shortly after winning the keys to No10.
But Mr Sunak told the Commons he “stands by” the 2019 manifesto and asked whether fracking was “back in the bin”, the PM’s spokesman said: “That’s correct”.
£10 NHS fines
During his failed bid for No10 against Liz Truss in the summer, Mr Sunak outlined his proposals to tackle the record NHS backlog.
This included a controversial plan to fine patients £10 for missed GP and hospital appointments. “I will charge people who waste valuable NHS time,” he declared.
The policy was criticised by health leaders and unions with the British Medical Association saying it would “make matters worse” in the health service.
Abandoning the policy, a No10 spokeswoman said: “We have listened to GPs and health leaders, and have acknowledged that now is not the right time to take this policy forward”.
Migrant cruise ships
The ex-Chancellor pledged in the summer to use cruise ships to house asylum seekers while their claims are processed as part of an immigration plan.
But No10 confirmed the idea had been dropped, with the PM’s spokesman saying he was “not aware of any plans” to use disused ships.
Government lawyers had warned the idea would breach obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention that prohibits countries from detaining people claiming asylum.
It would also have broken British law, which only allows individuals to be detained for immigration purposes if there is a “realistic prospect of removal”.
EU law
In a pledge unveiled during the summer’s leadership contest, Mr Sunak vowed to review all 2,400 EU laws still on the statue book during his first 100 days in Government.
“As Prime Minister, I would task a new Brexit Delivery Department with reviewing all of the remaining 2,400 laws on our statute book,” he declared.
“With the first set of recommendations as to whether each law should be scrapped or reformed being published within my first 100 days in the job.”
But the Financial Times reported Mr Sunak’s U-turn last week, claiming the “Brexit Delivery Department” would not be created. The target of 100 days will also be missed, it was added.
National Insurance
As Chancellor in Boris Johnson’s Government Mr Sunak unveiled a hike in national insurance to provide extra funds to the NHS, and eventually social care.
The 1.25 percentage point increase in the tax was dumped by Ms Truss – one of her only policies that has survived the test of time.
There had been speculation that Mr Sunak could revert to his original plan, which he stuck with during the Tory leadership contest, after he took over from Ms Truss.
But Mr Sunak’s Press Secretary said last week: “Obviously there was action taken in the last six weeks and the former Prime Minister and the Chancellor.
“It’s now gone through the house and it’s been voted on.”