'The general election isn't a foregone conclusion'

DEFIANT Rishi Sunak laid down the gauntlet to rebellious MPs to unite over Tory values as he insisted the result of the general election "isn't a foregone conclusion".

- Martyn Brown

In a rallying cry to his increasingly fragmented party, the Prime Minister said he was determined to "fight incredibly hard" for every possible vote to defeat Labour.

Facing down backbench calls to lurch to the right, Mr Sunak said cutting taxes, securing borders and making people safe were values which "unite all Conservatives".

The forthright remarks came as the PM made his first public appearance since a bruising set of local election and mayoral results following last Thursday's polls.

Since then Mr Sunak has suggested the UK is on course for a hung Parliament.

Challenged over the prediction on a visit to a community centre in Islington, North London, yesterday, the Prime Minister said: "The independent analysis shows that whilst, of course, this was a disappointing weekend for us, the result of the next general election isn't a foregone conclusion..

"Indeed [it is] actually closer than many people are saying or indeed some of the opinion polls are predicting.

"And that's why I'm absolutely determined to fight incredibly hard for what I believe and for the future country that I want to build, and that's what I'm going to do.

"To fight for this country, fight for the things I believe and deliver for everyone on the things that matter to them."

Hung