Struggling in the race to win Britain's election, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sought votes among robots and employees at a retail distribution center on Tuesday, starting his first campaign stop before 5am. Sunak, who often appeared fatigued during his six-week campaign across the country, began the second-to-last day of campaigning at a large Ocado warehouse in Luton, north of London, observing robots selecting items for delivery. He then put on a high-visibility jacket to assist in picking salad items at the Ocado warehouse, one of Britain's most successful tech companies, before meeting staff for tea. Later, he surprised people at a motorway service station by joining a McDonald's queue to buy breakfast for journalists, followed by a visit to a large supermarket. Sunak, who called an early election, surprising many in his party and the nation, has faced a challenging campaign, answering questions about the country's condition. Asked by BBC if he agreed with a leading pollster's view that he had no chance of winning, Sunak disagreed, stating, "I was up at four this morning talking to workers at a distribution facility. I'm here talking to you. I'll be out till the last moment of this campaign because I think it's a really important choice for the country." Sunak is scheduled to attend various events throughout Tuesday, including a late-night rally. His Conservatives, in power for 14 years, have trailed Keir Starmer's opposition Labour Party by about 20 points for most of the past year. Recently, Sunak has intensified his warnings about the dangers of a Labour government. Meanwhile, Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey has taken a more unconventional approach to campaigning, engaging in stunts like falling into a lake and doing a bungee jump to attract media attention. Starmer, likely to become Britain's next prime minister, has conducted a more traditional campaign, meeting voters at various locations and consistently delivering his core message.
Text: Lara Palmer
02.07.2024
Sunak engages with robots and retail staff, while facing tough questions and trailing in polls