Speaking on the Political Thinking podcast, Sunak reflected on his tenure, discussing the challenges he faced, his economic disagreements with Boris Johnson, and the lessons he learned from leading the country through crises. He admitted that his time in office was shaped by both economic and political turmoil, as he stepped in after Liz Truss’s short-lived leadership. Sunak defended his efforts to stabilize the government, believing that an alternative approach could have led to a complete collapse.
Despite his regret over the “Stop the Boats” slogan, Sunak reaffirmed his stance on deporting migrants who cross the Channel to Rwanda. He also voiced support for the UK leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) if reforms were not implemented, criticizing what he described as the court’s “mission creep.”
Sunak admitted that he should have acted sooner to reduce legal migration levels, despite taking strong measures later on. He also reflected on the moment he unexpectedly became prime minister in October 2022 while having a meal with his daughters, highlighting his belief in duty, influenced by his Hindu faith.
Among his achievements, Sunak takes the most pride in stabilizing the economy after Truss’s controversial tax-cut policies, which he dismissed as “fantasy economics.” He also shed light on his disagreements with Johnson over economic policy, emphasizing his belief in a smaller state and controlled public spending. He recounted their Sunday night debates on financial priorities, stressing the importance of curbing borrowing to prevent inflation and rising interest rates.
Sunak also reiterated his opposition to increasing taxes to fund a more generous social care system, instead advocating for radical state restructuring and welfare cuts to support defense spending. He now argues for abandoning the UK’s legal commitment to net zero, considering it a financial burden.
Reflecting on the COVID-19 pandemic, Sunak revealed that he contemplated resigning after being fined for attending a work meeting where a cake was presented for Johnson’s birthday. More significantly, he believes the government should have been more transparent about scientific uncertainties and the long-term impact of lockdowns, particularly on children’s education.
As the first British Asian prime minister, Sunak shared a moving account of his grandfather’s emotional reaction to his historic appointment. He also dismissed claims that he is not truly English, calling such assertions “ridiculous.”
Addressing speculation about his future, Sunak denied rumors that he called an early election to pursue a new life in California. He affirmed his commitment to the UK and highlighted his new charitable initiative, the Richmond Project, named after his Yorkshire constituency.
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