Rishi Sunak, the former UK Prime Minister, admitted during his tenure that the phrase “stop the boats,” intended to tackle the issue of migrants crossing the Channel, was “too stark.” Sunak maintained that while the aim to stem the flow of migrants was valid, the manner in which this policy was communicated to the public fell short. He voiced his thoughts on the Political Thinking podcast with Nick Robinson, suggesting that the slogan’s binary and severe nature needed a more nuanced context that highlighted the challenging nature of the task at hand.

He underscored the nation’s unlimited generosity and compassion, contrasting it with the limited resources available to manage the influx of migrants, stating that the phenomenon undermines the UK’s fundamental sense of fairness. Sunak refuted the notion that calling for an early general election was a hasty decision, clarifying that it was a deliberate pursuit of a mandate for his policy agenda.

Reflecting on his choice to call for an early election, Sunak underscored the difficulties he foresaw in implementing measures such as the Rwanda scheme and making significant changes to welfare and tax policies without a clear mandate from the electorate. He affirmed his support for his successor, Kemi Badenoch, regarding potential steps like departing from the European convention on human rights and cutting welfare expenditures to boost defense funding, which he viewed as crucial for the nation’s future.

Since stepping down as Prime Minister following the 2024 election defeat, Sunak has expressed excitement about the opportunities that lie ahead, emphasizing his youth and his desire to continue making substantial contributions beyond his service as prime minister.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/mar/05/stop-the-boats-slogan-was-too-stark-admits-rishi-sunak