Sunak’s Long-Term Decision Making: A Closer Look at His Failures and Self-Recognition | Rafael Behr

Rishi Sunak, an MP since 2015, has experienced a swift rise to power, becoming the Chancellor of the Exchequer in just five years. While some may question the speed of his promotion, Sunak’s intelligence and expertise have allowed him to effectively lead the Treasury during challenging times. In fact, his abilities were so esteemed by Conservative MPs that they appointed him as Prime Minister without contest, rejecting their own members’ preference for Liz Truss and potentially reinstating Boris Johnson.

However, it is important to recognize that Sunak’s ascension to power relied heavily on appointments rather than elections. Despite his qualifications, he cannot claim to be a natural-born winner.

Sunak’s approach to his current position reveals his frustration with the challenges he faces. When questioned about the difficulties he encounters, he appears exasperated, placing blame on the voters who fail to appreciate the difficulties of his job.

To avoid the humiliation of failure, Sunak has redefined success as making long-term decisions for a brighter future. However, this rebranding tactic appears hollow, as no candidate would ever promise short-term tactics for a darker tomorrow.

Sunak’s allies depict him as a martyr who confronts the electorate with the necessary trade-offs for responsible leadership. If this were true, he would acknowledge that the current tax base cannot sustain the expected level of public services and that individuals’ property wealth will eventually be used to fund social care.

However, Sunak avoids these difficult conversations, just as he avoids admitting that leaving the European single market was a mistake or reforming planning rules that favor property owners over others. His decision-making does not align with long-term governance and instead focuses on short-term gains.

Sunak’s withdrawal from ambitious environmental targets and high-speed rail projects exhibits his lack of foresight. His rhetoric serves a campaign purpose, creating fear around Labour policies and potentially harming the country’s reputation.

Unlike Boris Johnson, Sunak does not deliver his misleading messages with a knowing glint. Instead, he portrays himself as genuinely believing in his arguments, demonstrating an unctuous, self-righteous demeanor.

The prime minister’s claims of making long-term choices are empty, considering his lack of electoral mandate and the limited time he has left in office. As the election approaches, the future of the Conservative party will be determined, and the official manifesto will compete with the platforms of potential leadership candidates.

One such candidate, Suella Braverman, has expressed controversial views on refugees and human rights. While the prime minister may share these views, he chooses not to publicly endorse them, revealing his political and strategic limitations.

Sunak finds himself at the height of his power at a time when it is rapidly diminishing. His ascent aligns with the pattern of a long-serving government that produces unimaginative and ideologically complacent leaders.

While Sunak attempts to present himself as a strategic and visionary leader, the reality is that he is navigating the path of least resistance and postponing tough choices. This will ultimately make governance more challenging in the long term.

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