RISHI Sunak is eyeing the double this summer – England winning the Euros and him coming home to No10.
The PM predicted it’s not all over and he can turn his 20 point poll deficit around on July 4 – with the Three Lions romping home weeks later.
And he said it’s not the Germans or the French he’s worried about on the pitch but “Captain Flip Flop and his band of socialists” — as he dubbed Sir Keir Starmer and Labour.
Speaking to The Sun in sunny Bury last today, the chipper Tory boss declared: “It’s Coming Home!”
“When it comes to the football, I tell you the country they shouldn’t just be worried about the Danes, Slovenians and the Serbs.
“They should be worried about Captain Flip Flop and his band of socialists. I think victory is in sight and we’ll bring it home.”
The Prime Minister was still in buoyant mood after his team Southampton made a return to the Premier League at the first time of asking last weekend – beating Leeds in a Wembley play-off.
He said: “Well, I was worried about Southampton, but that is worked out very well. So that’s very good. So I’m looking forward to some premiership games at St. Mary’s next season.”
When asked by The Sun whether the Tories or England has more chance of winning, he quickly replied: “Saints. Election. England win the Euros.”
Meanwhile fans can watch Euros matches in peace after both the PM and the man hoping to replace him stood down their activists during England matches.
Both party leaders have urged their army of election door-knockers to take 90 minutes off the campaign stump so people can enjoy the game.
Mr Sunak said his candidates “no door knocking when the matches are on”.
What I saw today reconfirms what we already know about Keir Starmer and that’s that he constantly changes his mind
Rishi Sunak
He added: “I think people will be self-policing, but I think that’s pretty assured. It should be a good summer.”
And Sir Keir told the Sun: “We’re in for a summer of footballing fever and England fans understandably want to watch the games in peace.
“The last thing someone wants just as Phil Foden lines up a screamer is for the doorbell to go!
“I’ll be taking 90 minutes off the election trail on match day to cheer on the team, and encourage candidates and activists to join me in cheering on the team.”
The Euros kick off in Germany in June 14, with England taking on Serbia on June 14 for their opening match.
It follows fears the July 4 snap poll could ruin a summer of football fever with endless politicking interrupting the tournament.
The Sun joined the PM on his tour of the North West earlier tonight – feeding lambs in Cheshire and dishing out ice-creams to kids in Greater Manchester.
While on the road, news of Starmer’s latest flip flop – allowing Diane Abbott to stand for Labour– broke.
And the PM pointed the finnger at Lbour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner as the driving force of the climbdown.
He said: “What I saw today reconfirms what we already know about Keir Starmer and that’s that he constantly changes his mind, can’t stick to a position, that it’s clear that Angela Rayner is actually in charge of the party and not him.
He added: “If he’s willing to give it to her on this, then just think what he’s going to get into when it comes to union demands, higher taxes, or indeed weakening our defence and security.”
Worryingly, he launches a thinly-veiled attack on Ms Rayner and her voting record when it comes to national security when she voted against nuclear deterrent.
Angela Rayner, who as we’ve just discovered today is actually in charge of the Labour Party is someone who alongside the shadow Foreign Secretary voted against our nuclear deterrent
Rishi Sunak
He recently announced on a trip to Warsaw, Poland, that the government was committed to spending 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence spending – which Labour have yet to commit to.
The PM said: “The right thing to do in that environment to keep everyone safe to keep your readers safe is to increase our defence spending.
“That’s what we will do and are already doing the Labour Party are not going to do that.
“And worse Angela Rayner, who as we’ve just discovered today is actually in charge of the Labour Party is someone who alongside the shadow Foreign Secretary voted against our nuclear deterrent.
“I do this job. I know the value of that determine it is the ultimate guarantor of our security in a more uncertain world.
“The person who would be the deputy leader, Deputy Prime Minister of our country, and the person who would be the foreign secretary of our country both voted against that deterrent.
“And we all know Keir Starmer, someone who wanted Jeremy Corbyn to be Prime Minister twice who wanted not just scrambling and terror, but also withdraw us from NATO and get rid of the army.”
In his most personal attacks on Sir Keir Starmer and his team yet, the PM cranked up the pressure ahead of his one on one TV showdown next week.
Quizzed by The Sun, he said there had been so many flip flops from Starmer he couldn’t rank them, saying: “That is a competition in and of itself. There is a lot.
“But that actually, it’s an important point, because we’re living in an uncertain time and uncertain times call for leadership, where the person in charge has got a clear plan that they stick to, is willing to take bold action and really is focused on delivering a secure future for everyone.
We have heard [Starmer is] a socialist, and the one thing we all know, we all know the one thing he has said is that
Rishi Sunak
“And all of that has to be based on a strong set of convictions and values, and that’s what people get with me.
“Not everyone will agree with everything I do but I think people know with me what they’re getting.
“They know what I stand for. I stick to things even when they’re difficult, and you can’t get anything done quite frankly in this job unless you don’t have strong convictions.”
And he attacked Starmer for saying he was a socialist– warning all socialist governments end in higher taxes.
“We have heard he’s a socialist, and the one thing we all know, we all know the one thing he has said is that.
“I don’t think Britain wants higher taxes. But what do socialists always do?
“As Margaret Thatcher famously reminded us, they always run out of everyone else’s money and that means everyone’s taxes go up.”
He added: “I’m a Conservative and proudly so. I believe in lower taxes and strong borders, and a sensible approach to net zero… strong families.
“These are things I care about, and I’m not interested in them (Labour) but it’s clear when he says he’s a socialist.
“Everyone just needs to hear ‘up’ – my taxes are going up under him.”
And in fighting talk ahead of their telly clash, he added: “I’m going to be talking about what I want to do for the country because I’m more interested in not playing the man, playing the ball. Right?
“And I’m interested in talking about my ideas for the country, how they’re going to help people.
I know British people don’t like being taken for granted. Right? People deserve to know what he would do if [Starmer] wins
Rishi Sunak
“How they’re going to help your readers by cutting their taxes, you know, not being ideological about net zero – getting there in a sensible way that doesn’t saddle people with massive bills.
“Prioritise our energy security, how we’re going to get our flights off, get the deterrent going so we can stop the boats.
“Keir Starmer doesn’t believe in any of those things. He wants open borders.”
And he urged his opponent to be more honest about his plans, and set out some policies saying: “You know, British people deserve more than that.
“I know British people don’t like being taken for granted. Right? People deserve to know what he would do if he wins.”
THE PLANES WILL LEAVE
RISHI Sunak has vowed that illegal migrant flights to Rwanda will take off if he wins the election — in a “clear choice” for voters.
The PM told The Sun that voters will have to choose between “building a deterrent” for small boats and Labour’s plan to stop planes leaving.
He told The Sun: “If I win, then all the people that we’ve detained are getting on those flights — and those flights are going to Rwanda.
“Those people have been detained, flights are booked, airfields are on standby, escorts are there, casework is happening and flights will go because that’s how we build a deterrent.
“You’ve got to make it clear — if you come here illegally you won’t stay.”
He said across Europe “the penny is dropping” as 15 EU states voted for a similar scheme in their own countries.
Sir Keir Starmer would “offer an amnesty to illegal migrants” and cancel Rwanda flights if Labour win, Mr Sunak said.
He said: “You know what you’re gonna get with me and you do know what you’re gonna get with him because he said very clearly, he is going to let everyone out of the detention centres.
“I don’t want us to be a magnet for migrants. I want us to have strong borders and on that question there is a clear choice at this election.”
When asked why no flights have taken off, Mr Sunak blamed “people like Keir Starmer”.
He said: “I have fought and fought to get this done.”
‘UK’S UNSAFE WITH LABOUR’
LABOUR do not know how to keep Britain safe, Mr Rishi Sunak blasted.
The PM told The Sun that boosting military funding is pivotal.
And he slammed Sir Keir Starmer for for refusing to commit to match plans to spend 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2030.
Rishi said: “The world is more dangerous and uncertain than it’s been in decades.
“Iran, Russia, North Korea and China are increasingly acting together in a way that damages our interests.”
The PM said senior Labour figures had voted previously against the Trident nuclear deterrent, adding: “This is not a party that can be trusted with our country’s safety.”
‘TORIES DON’T HATE YOUNG’
RISHI Sunak tonight claimed the Tories do care about young people.
The PM told The Sun he was not only offering election goodies to OAPs.
He insisted National Service wasn’t a pledge for fed-up parents but a “transformational” offer to generation TikTok.
The policy would see 18-year-olds mandated to either complete military service or help out their community on one weekend every month.
Talking in Bury, Gtr Manchester, Mr Sunak said: “I want every young person to go into the world confident they’re going to get great jobs.”
On a tax break for older Brits he said: “If you work hard all your life you should have dignity in retirement.”
