'We're not going away': PM delivers 'straightforward' message for Putin at G7 summit

Rishi Sunak has given a “straightforward” message for Vladimir Putin on the G7 summit: “We’re not going away.”

Speaking to Sky News in Hiroshima, the prime minister had prepared solutions for his coverage and place on Ukraine.

Hours earlier, he had introduced a ban on imports of Russian diamonds – and advised me that he believes different G7 international locations will comply with swimsuit this weekend.

“Russia needs to know that we and other countries are steadfast in our resolve to support Ukraine, not just in the here and now with the resources it needs to protect itself, but for the long term as well,” the PM mentioned.

Ukraine conflict newest: ‘Remarkable improvement’ means Russia ‘has by no means seemed weaker’

Mr Sunak repeatedly refused to decide to lowering total internet migration beneath the 504,000 determine for the 12 months to June 2022, saying: “What I can commit is that we want to bring those levels down.”

In 2019 the Conservative Party promised in its manifesto to carry total internet migration figures down from the then 226,000 in 2019.

But throughout this parliament, internet migration has continued to rise to file ranges – and is about to go even larger nonetheless.

Figures to be launched subsequent week are set to indicate numbers rising from 650,000 to only shy of 1 million, which is able to pile strain on the prime minister.

Of course, Mr Sunak is loathed to decide to a determine as a result of he would not know if he can maintain the pledge – his motto in spite of everything is to ship on guarantees, and do not promise what you may’t ship.

But it is usually an admission that, having didn’t hit the final manifesto goal of driving internet migration all the way down to beneath 226,000, he cannot even decide to driving it again previous half one million, which is able to give Labour numerous political ammunition to fireside on the prime minister going right into a basic election marketing campaign.

Mr Sunak saved rounding again to his plans to deal with unlawful migration and cease small boat crossings in our interview – in all probability as a result of he is aware of that is the place key goal voters will wish to see progress from the PM – however he should know too that top ranges of migration and breaking the 2019 manifesto pledge places him in a decent spot with the general public.

The PM mentioned this week of his election prospects that he is assured he can win the subsequent basic election, however you may’t assist however surprise if he is nonetheless reeling from the big native election losses earlier this month that noticed the Conservatives lose over 1,000 councillors.

Read extra:
Rishi Sunak refuses to stay to Johnson’s internet migration pledge
‘Share your secrets and techniques about Ukraine conflict,’ CIA tells Russians

This in spite of everything is a person of nice success – head boy at his boarding college, a self-made millionaire and profitable businessman who went into politics and have become PM.

But once I requested him how he feels when he loses, he seemed a bit stumped and requested me what I meant.

When I requested him once more how he felt when he did not win, he trotted out the identical line he gave on the morning of the native elections – “it’s always disappointing to lose hard-working councillors”.

In reality, the prime minister was fairly robotic in our interview at occasions.

Eight occasions in our nine-minute change, Mr Sunak referred to his “five priorities”.

He went on to record these priorities on 4 separate events in our dialog once I pressed him on native elections and the price of dwelling disaster.

Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts

On the world stage, it is a chief who’s delivering, be it the brand new bilateral Hiroshima settlement with Japan to deepen financial, safety and technological ties between London and Tokyo, or the brand new set of sanctions towards Russia.

And Mr Sunak might be given an additional enhance on this entrance over the weekend as President Zelenskyy of Ukraine arrives in Japan to face shoulder-to-shoulder along with his allies towards Russian aggression.

But again residence, it appears that evidently his message to voters on his five-point plan to “halve inflation, grow the economy, reduce debt, cut waiting lists and stop the boats” appears to be falling on deaf ears, nevertheless many occasions he chooses to say it.

No 10 is betting that if he manages to show these guarantees into actual motion for voters, they might give the Conservatives one other look.

But after seven months in energy, the polls aren’t transferring in his favour – and what’s clear is that there is not a Plan B.