PM attacks Starmer on defence as election lines drawn

The Conservatives are currently behind Labour in the polls and Mr Sunak faces an uphill struggle to turn thing around before the next general election, expected this year. In his 30 minute speech - which sounded like the opening salvo in an election campaign and included a personal attack on the Labour leader - Mr Sunak described a future that was both a time of danger but also of transformation. He warned of threats from an "axis of authoritarian powers" such as Russia, Iran, North Korea and China and spoke of the challenges to cyber security. However, he also argued there were reasons for optimism citing the potential of artificial intelligence to improve education and health. In contrast to his conference speech last autumn, which had the theme of change, he also sought to defend the Conservatives' time in government, while attempting to personify the future.