Sunak warns of dire nuclear threat and proposes bold break from Human Rights Treaty
3:17 PM EDT, May 13, 2024
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has warned we are on the brink of the most significant nuclear escalation since the Cuban Missile Crisis. He contends that the world will undergo more changes in the next five years than it has seen in the past three decades. In his remarks, Sunak also pointed out Putin's "recklessness" and declared that the UK is poised to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights, "if necessary".
While addressing the Policy Exchange think tank, Sunak highlighted that the upcoming House of Commons elections present a pivotal choice between embracing the future or clinging to the past. He maintained that only his Conservative Party possesses the vision and competence required to navigate forthcoming challenges.
Sunak expressed a "deep sense of urgency," emphasizing that the rate of change in the next five years will outpace the changes of the last thirty years.
"Over the next few years, from our democracy to our society to our economy to the hardest questions of war and peace, almost every aspect of our lives is going to change," he said.
The threat of Putin's recklessness and nuclear escalation
Sunak identified Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China as nations intent on "undermining" British values. He specifically cited Vladimir Putin's actions, stating, "the Russian president's recklessness has pushed us closer to a dangerous nuclear escalation than any time since the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962."
"These challenges are not remote," Sunak stressed, referring to recent cyberattacks by Chinese hackers on British parliamentarians and poisonings carried out by Russia on British soil.
UK's Stance on the European Convention on Human Rights: "If Necessary"
Sunak remarked that prioritizing national security is crucial for the country's future, indicating his readiness to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights if necessary.
Sunak’s criticism of political rivals
Although admitting that not all aspects of the Conservative Party's 14-year governance have been successful, he criticized the opposition Labour Party for lacking substantive policies on illegal immigration, energy security, or economic plans.
The House of Commons elections are expected to occur in the latter part of this year, with the Conservative Party trailing behind the Labour Party by an average of just over 20 percentage points in polls, with some showing a gap of up to 30 points.
