Things can only get ‘wetter’ as UK PM Rishi Sunak struggles to deliver early election message

Matt Shrivell
The Nightly
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has set July 4 as the date for a general election. (AP PHOTO)
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has set July 4 as the date for a general election. (AP PHOTO) Credit: AP

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak probably thought his day was only going to get better as he appeared in the doorway at No.10 Downing Street to announce a snap election, but the weather and a cheeky protester had other ideas.

In somewhat of a surprise, the ever-confident Conservative Party leader strode to the lectern to call an early election for July 4, but the heavens opened and he was drowned, in a blinding rainstorm, and out, by a song synonymous with Labour’s monster 1997 election victory.

As the PM began to deliver his speech the familiar tune, Things Can Only Get Better by D: Ream, blared across the common and continued to be a complete distraction for the PM and gathered onlookers.

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The Guardian reported that anti-Brexit campaigner Steve Bray, whose longstanding protest outside parliament chose the tune because it was the “top trolling song for the Conservatives”.

“I thought about what would be the best trolling tune if he announced the election,” he said. “And of course, it had to be Things Can Only Get Better. Because everybody can relate to that and the 1997 election.

“I didn’t do it for Labour. I did it because it was the top trolling song for the Conservatives.”

In an attempt to show the party under Tony Blair was moving with the times, Things Will Only Get Better was made Labour’s official campaign song during the party’s 1997 campaign.

The change worked and the song has never been forgotten by Labour supporters and their figureheads.

Almost shouting to be heard above the anthem Sunak listed what he said were his achievements in government, not only as prime minister but also as a former finance minister.

“Now is the moment for Britain to choose its future,” he said, describing that choice as one between stability with him and the unknown with Labour leader Keir Starmer.

“Over the next few weeks, I will fight for every vote, I will earn your trust and I will prove to you that only a Conservative government led by me will not put our hard-earned economic stability at risk.”

In an attack on Labour, he said that Starmer, conversely, always took the “easy way out” and had no plan.

“As a result, the future can only be uncertain with them,” he said.

And AAP.

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