Sunak dismisses rumours of plans to quit before election

Rishi Sunak has been forced to deny that he will quit before polling day as he seeks to reinvigorate his stalled election campaign with a manifesto focused on tax cuts.

- KATE DEVLIN

The prime minister said that he would carry on “until the last day” as he tried to draw a line under last week’s D-Day row.

And he hoped voters could “find it in their hearts to forgive” him after an outpouring of criticism over his decision to leave the commemoration in Normandy early.

Mr Sunak was accused of going into hiding after the snub, as rumours swirled that he might step down.

But he said he would not stop “fighting for the future of our country”, adding that he was “energised” by the vision his party was putting forward.

He also hit back at Nigel Farage’s claim that the PM does not understand “our culture”, condemning the remarks as not “good for our politics or indeed our country”.

But in an interview with the BBC, Mr Sunak admitted it had got “harder” to get on the housing ladder under the Conservatives, adding that he wanted to “make sure it gets easier”.

Mr Sunak also confirmed his manifesto will include tax cuts, saying: “We’re going to keep cutting people’s taxes. You’ll see that in our manifesto tomorrow [today].”

“Saddling young people with higher taxes” would make it harder for them to save for a deposit to buy a house, he said, adding he wanted people to “keep more of their money”.

And he doubled down on his claims Labour is preparing a £2,000 tax bombshell, even after the figure was rubbished by the Treasury.

Mr Sunak is expected to promise another cut to national insurance, but not scrap inheritance tax, as he fights for his political life.

He has already pledged not to raise income tax, national insurance or VAT and to introduce a “triple lock plus” to prevent pensioners paying income tax on the state pension.