Rishi Sunak's Broken Promises: A Pattern of Erosion of Trust

As Rishi Sunak vowed to lead a government with "integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level," his actions have drawn significant attention for contradicting his campaign promises. A series of pledges he made during the 2019 Conservative manifesto and his bid to become party leader have been rapidly axed in his time as Prime Minister. Sunak's government has been forced to admit failing to deliver on promises to bring down NHS waiting lists and remove EU laws. This article outlines the specific promises Sunak has broken, including his pledge to put the NHS on a "war footing," scrap EU laws, and maintain foreign aid spending.

Key Takeaways:

• NHS waiting lists: Despite promising to eliminate 18-month waits for planned NHS care, Sunak's government has missed this target, with 10,737 people waiting longer than this at the end of March.
• Scrap EU laws: Sunak's promise to review or repeal post-Brexit EU laws within his first 100 days has been abandoned, with only 600 laws revoked instead of the 4,000 pledged.
• Wind farms: Sunak's vow to never relax the ban on onshore wind in England has been U-turned, with the government announcing a consultation to allow for new sites in the countryside.
• £10 fines for missed GP appointments: Sunak's plan to fine patients £10 for missed NHS appointments has been abandoned, with health leaders and unions criticizing the policy.
• Fracking ban: Sunak's stance on fracking is unclear, as he initially supported the ban but later suggested it could be lifted if local communities support it.
• National Insurance: Sunak's promise not to raise National Insurance has been broken, with a hike in NI introduced as chancellor.
• Pension triple lock: Sunak's government axed the tripple lock for one year in favor of a 'double lock', raising the state pension by only 2.5% or inflation in 2022.
• Defence spending: Sunak's promise to increase defence spending by at least 0.5% above inflation every year has been abandoned, citing the cost of the pandemic.
• Foreign aid target: Sunak's government has lowered the foreign aid target from 0.7% to 0.5%, cutting spending on projects in some of the poorest countries.

Statistics:

• 7.3 million people waiting for routine hospital treatment in England
• 10,737 people waiting longer than 18 months for planned NHS care
• £4,000 worth of EU laws pledged to be scrapped
• 600 EU laws actually revoked
• 21% decrease in UK aid spending in 2021 compared to 2020
• £11.4 billion spent on foreign aid in 2021

Sources:

• "Rishi Sunak's government forced to admit failure to bring down NHS waiting lists and get rid of EU laws." The Mirror
• "Rishi Sunak has axed pledges he made in the Tory leadership race last summer." The Mirror
• "Tories promised not to raise National Insurance – but it's rising under Rishi Sunak's leadership." The Mirror
• "Rishi Sunak's government has broken another Conservative election promise – this time on fracking." The Mirror