Rishi Sunak has reeled off a list of things voters should be scared of as he made a desperate general election pitch.
The Prime Minister warned an “axis of authoritarian states” is plotting to undermine the UK and its allies. He added that the world is closer to a “dangerous nuclear escalation” than at any point in 62 years as 20 wars wage across the globe.
In a wide-ranging speech he claimed the country is at a “crossroads”. He accused Vladimir Putin of “weaponising” immigration, criticised China for targeting British MPs and warned “aggressive fringe groups” are exploiting uncertainty.
Mr Sunak told an audience at think-tank Policy Exchange: “I’m convinced that the next few years will be some of the most dangerous yet the most transformational our country has ever known.” And in a bleak message to the electorate, Mr Sunak said: “The dangers that threaten our country are real. They are increasing in number.”
Here we look at some of the key things he singled out.
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1. ‘Axis of authoritarian states’
The Prime Minister highlighted the combined dangers of Russia, Iran, North Korea and China to the UK. He branded them an “axis of authoritarian states”. Mr Sunak said: “An axis of authoritarian states like Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China is working together to undermine us and our values.”
He warned this is not a remote threat, with hostile states active within the UK. Mr Sunak stated: “These are not faraway problems. Iranian proxies are firing on British ships in the Red Sea, disrupting goods destined for our high streets.
“Here at home, China has conducted cyber targeting of our democratically elected MPs. Russia has poisoned people with chemical weapons.
“And when Putin cut off the gas supplies it had a devastating impact on people’s lives and threatened our energy security.”
2. 20 conflicts around the world
Mr Sunak pointed to the number of wars happening around the world. He said the return of war to Europe and the crisis in the Middle East, couple with conflicts in 18 countries in Africa, highlight the volatility been world leaders.
He said NATO allies fear that if Putin is successful in Ukraine, they will be next. The PM told the audience: “War has returned to Europe, with our NATO allies warning that if Putin succeeds in Ukraine, they might be next. War rages, too, in the Middle East as Israel defends itself not only against the terrorists of Hamas but a barrage of missiles fired – for the first time – directly from Iran. Right now in Africa, conflicts are being fought in 18 different countries.”
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3. Risk of dangerous nuclear escalation
These risks have put the world at greater risk of nuclear war than at any point since the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. Back then it was feared US President John F Kennedy and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev would unleash destruction over the placement of Russian weapons in Cuba.
Mr Sunak said that with Putin increasingly unpredictable and nuclear-armed states looking dangerous, those same dangers have reared their heads. The PM stated: “Putin’s recklessness has taken us closer to a dangerous nuclear escalation than at any point since the Cuban missile crisis.”
4. Increased threat from extremists
All these factors are empowering extremists, Mr Sunak said. Referencing pro-Palestine marches and university protests, he accused hostile forces of setting Brits against each other.
Mr Sunak said: “Extremists are also exploiting these global conflicts to divide us. People are abusing our liberal democratic values – the freedom of speech and right of protest – to intimidate, threaten and assault others, to sing antisemitic chants on our streets and our university campuses, and to weaponise the evils of anti-Semitism or anti-Muslim hatred in a divisive, ideological attempt to set Briton against Briton.
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5. Fringe groups and Scottish nationalists
The Prime Minister hit out at “aggressive fringe groups” in his wide-ranging speech. Mr Sunak accused activists of trying to “make it morally unacceptable to believe something different”.
Mr Sunak said: “And from gender activists hijacking children’s sex education to cancel culture, vocal and aggressive fringe groups are trying to impose their views on the rest of us. They’re trying to make it morally unacceptable to believe something different and undermine people’s confidence and pride in our own history and identity. Scottish nationalists are even trying to tear our United Kingdom apart.”
6. AI and new technology
The PM went on to say that the public’s “sense of insecurity” is heightened by fears over new technology like AI. In a veiled swipe at Labour, he suggested that only he recognised the dangers, and therefore can best be trusted.
Mr Sunak said: “When the IMF says 40% of jobs could be affected, or hundreds of leading experts say the risks could be on a par with pandemics or nuclear war, and when children are exposed to bullying, sexualised content or even self-harm online, people want to know they’ve got someone in charge who understands these dangers, because only if you understand what is happening can you be trusted to keep us safe.”
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7. Putin weaponising immigration
The Prime Minister set his sights on immigration, accusing Vladimir Putin of using millions of displaced people for his own ends. He claimed illegal immigration is putting an “intolerable” strain on the UK’s security.
He said: “And in this world of greater conflict and danger, 100 million people are now displaced globally. Countries like Russia are weaponising immigration for their own ends, and criminal gangs keep finding new routes across European borders.
“Illegal migration is placing an intolerable strain on our security and our sense of fairness, and unless we act now and act boldly this problem is only going to grow.”