Rishi Sunak’s tenure as United Kingdom prime minister, from October 2022 until the Conservative Party’s defeat in July 2024, was marked by significant challenges and internal party discord, according to a new political analysis. Sunak assumed office amid a deeply divided and weakened Conservative Party, inheriting a government struggling to maintain public support and cohesion.
Before entering politics, Sunak built a successful career in finance, becoming a Member of Parliament in 2015 and rising to national prominence as Chancellor of the Exchequer in 2020. Despite this rapid ascent, his entry to Downing Street was described as reluctant. After losing the Conservative leadership contest to Liz Truss, he was reportedly persuaded by advisers to stand again as her premiership faltered. While aware that a heavy electoral loss was likely, Sunak felt a responsibility to stabilize the country.
Sunak’s period in office was overshadowed by the party’s internal strife and waning public trust. His administration struggled to distance itself from the controversies tied to former leaders Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, whose supporters continued to exert influence. Efforts to placate factions within the party, including appointing Suella Braverman as home secretary despite her recent resignation over a security breach, often backfired. Several senior colleagues, such as Gavin Williamson and Nadim Zahawi, left the government amid conduct-related issues early in Sunak’s premiership, exacerbating the perception of disorder.
On policy, Sunak’s most notable achievements came in foreign affairs. He developed strong relationships with international leaders and played a key role in delivering the Windsor framework deal with the European Union, which aimed to address ongoing challenges related to Brexit. These efforts helped bolster the UK’s global standing at a time when Sunak himself was seen as less experienced in this domain.
Nevertheless, his leadership faced persistent opposition from the party’s right wing. Figures linked to Johnson and Truss reportedly undermined Sunak, while demands for a stricter immigration policy from Braverman and others clashed with Sunak’s views on feasibility and responsibility. His inability to fully assert control over party factions contributed to political unrest, including plots to remove him from office.
Critics within and outside the party pointed to Sunak’s cautious approach and lack of a compelling vision as contributing factors to the Conservative Party’s historic electoral losses under his leadership. His pledge to “stop the boats” ferrying migrants was seen by some as overpromising, and certain public moments, such as an early departure from the 2024 D-Day commemorations, damaged his political standing.
Observers characterize Sunak as a hardworking and capable leader who confronted extraordinary challenges but was ultimately hindered by the fractured condition of his party, which had already lost public confidence. While some on the Conservative right view Sunak’s technocratic style as disconnected from the party’s populist base, others recognize him as a figure caught between governance demands and a party struggling with discipline, integrity, and economic credibility.
As the Conservative Party continues to grapple with its identity and popularity, assessments of Sunak’s premiership suggest that much of the damage limiting his effectiveness was rooted in the period preceding his leadership and driven largely by internal party divisions. Despite his qualities, reversing the party’s fortunes proved to be beyond his reach.