Rishi Sunak dismisses rumours of shifting to California after UK election

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has dismissed rumours that he planned to move to California, US, following a possible election defeat for his Conservative Party.

Sunak pledged to stay on in the UK regardless of the election outcome on July 4, in an interview with the network ITV. Speculations were rife that Rishi Sunak called an early election to arrange his daughters’ schooling in the US by September.

The UK votes on July 4 in a parliamentary election advanced by PM Rishi Sunak.

Former Tory minister Lord Goldsmith had accused him of planning a move to California. Reacting to which, Sunak said, “It’s simply not true. I mean, it’s just simply not true”.

“Of course I am. Of course, and this is my home. I mean, my football team just got promoted back to the Premiership and I hope to be watching them for years to come in the Premier League,” added Sunak.

On being questioned if the early election was a strategy to “cut and run”, Sunak said,“You know, I grew up instilled by my parents with an enormous sense of service, service to our community when I grew up in Southampton and now service to our country. And that’s something I feel very deeply. People know about my background”.

“I’m in this because I want to make a difference to people’s lives,” added Rishi Sunak.

Sunak also addressed criticism of his national service plan for school-leavers, during a recent interview. Minister Steve Baker had criticised the plan for its compulsory nature.

“I have great respect for Steve, of course I do. And he’s a valued colleague and good friend, but I think with citizenship comes responsibility, as well as rights and we talk a lot about rights these days. I think it’s important to remember that we all have a responsibility to each other, to our society and communities, and to our country,” Sunak said.

“And what this new modern form of national service will do is strengthen, make sure that we foster that genuine culture of service, give young people the opportunity to contribute to their community, to society, to our country, and in the process, not just gain valuable skills for themselves, but also strengthen our collective country’s security and resilience,” he added.