British prime minister warns of ‘axis of authoritarian states’ in pre-election speech
By BRIAN MELLEY
Associated Press
LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has warned of a dangerous future for the U.K. in a pitch to voters ahead of a national election that could see Conservatives ousted from power after 14 years. Sunak’s speech repeatedly attacked Labour leader Keir Starmer and said he lacked a plan for the future. Sunak says his pledge to increase military spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product by 2030 better positions his party to confront an “axis of authoritarian states.” A Labour party member criticized the speech as a desperate attempt to hide the government’s failures.