RISHI Sunak has denied he is a Tory-lite “quinoa salad” when compared to Nigel Farage’s full-throated conservatism – as he faced his latest election TV quiz.
The Reform boss was described as a full “Sunday roast with all the trimmings” in comparison to the PM’s meagre offering to right-wing voters.
Rishi Sunak launched a defence of his record – and future plan – tonight
The PM sat down for a telly viewing with Nick Robinson
On the eve of his make-or-break manifesto launch, Mr Sunak confirmed his party would unveil new tax giveaways on Tuesday.
The under-fire Tory chief will offer tax cuts for millions and a tough clampdown on soaring immigration in a last ditch effort to breathe life into his bid to remain PM.
There will be manifesto giveaways for workers with another 2p cut to National Insurance promised, and a cap on the number of visas issued will be promised in a bid to tackle out of control legal migration rates.
Ahead of his big launch, Mr Sunak issued a direct plea to true-blues, warning them a vote for Farage would let Starmer romp to power.
In a combative BBC interview, he begged Tory voters to stick with him as the only way of stopping lefty Sir Keir seizing the keys to No10 on July 4.
It came as a new poll showed the Tories has already haemorrhaged a fifth of their 2019 support to a resurgent Reform party.
The BBC’s Nick Robinson pressed the PM on the threat from Mr Farage – saying: “A lot of people looking at him and you, they think these Conservatives, he’s a kind of Sunday roast with all the trimmings and you’re a quinoa salad.”
A combative Mr Sunak shot back that “a vote for anyone else – including Nigel Farage’s party – is ultimately a vote that makes it more likely that Keir Starmer is in power.”
Rebutting the charge that he was not Conservative enough he went on: “Well, here’s what we’re offering. Lower taxes, protected pensions, increase in defence spending, a more sensible approach to net zero and a clear plan to both stop the boats and bring down the levels of migration.
“That is what I’m talking to the country about. That’s the choice.”
Mr Sunak will use his manifesto launch tomorrow to try to neutralise the Reform surge that is eating into this voter base.
Mr Farage yesterday boasted of 15,000 new members since he announced his return to frontline politics last week, upending Tory hopes of keeping the election as a straight fight with Labour.
He has accused the Tories of failing to cut taxes and control immigration despite the Brexit decision in 2016.
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