Sunak makes security central to his stump speech

Rishi Sunak tonight made his first stump speech, kicking off the Tory election campaign with an appearance at the Excel Centre in the East End of London. The Prime Minister took to the stage after James Cleverly served as his warm-up act, reliving the role he played in the last election as party chairman and Tory cheerleader. The contrast between the two men emphasised the message which Sunak wanted to land. While Cleverly’s speech was relaxed and off the-cuff and relaxed, Sunak stuck to his autocue and talked up the importance of security in this election, using variations of the word eight times in his ten-minute speech to the 100-odd attendees.

Wearing the same rain-drenched trousers from his earlier appearance at the Downing Street lectern, Sunak sought to be a mix of punchy pugilist and sagacious statesman. The middle section of his speech touched on issues of high politics: Islamist extremism in the Middle East and a China ‘seeking to dominate the 21st century by stealing a lead in technology.’