How has the PM done in his first 100 days?

Yesterday, 2 February, marked 100 days since Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister. Much of the ground that he will contest up to the next election has now been set out.

When he stood on the steps of 10 Downing Street on 25 October the new Prime Minister said he would bring “compassion to the challenges we face today”, and “unite our country, not with words, but with action.” Memorably he stated that “this government will have integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level. Trust is earned. And I (the Prime Minster) will earn yours.”

How do Mr. Sunak’s first 100 days measure up against those words?

His biggest success has surely been to bring calm to the financial markets.

Truss-onomics was a whirlwind that caused a storm. The PM is still dealing with the fallout of those 43 days, but we should commend him on bringing relative stability that is to everyone’s benefit.

The Prime Minister must also be commended on his commitment to his convictions and values. From protecting the wellbeing of children and young people from the excesses of gender ideology to his position on the public sector pay disputes, he has put his convictions and beliefs before political pragmatism and opportunistic populism. That is good even if you do disagree with his convictions and positions.

Those principles have extended to his approach to upholding standards in public life. I believe the Prime Minster was right to first fast-track inquiries into his Party Chairman’s tax affairs, and to act swiftly on evidence rather than jump upon speculation. I pray and hope that he will continue to approach each case of misconduct and poor behaviour in this way.

In flagging his success in calming the markets and being a person of conviction and due process, I know I am opening myself up to the accusation that I am damning the Prime Minister with faint praise. I am not. Values, standards, and aspirations that were givens for previous generations of political leaders cannot now be taken for granted. The challenge, as Mr. Sunak noted himself, is to be consistent in applying compassion, integrity, professionalism and accountability to the challenges and issues that are weighing down his in-tray.

The cost-of-living crisis, public sector industrial relations, the state of our health and social care system, understanding the significance and impact of entrenched social issues, and recapturing rationality, truth and an understanding about the long-term impact of proposed ‘progressive’ social reforms can seem daunting problems to any Prime Minster and their Government.

Prime Ministers and public alike are always tempted to believe a human leader can be our saviour from our ills and our enemies. But no Prime Minister can solve the sinfulness of the human heart, or the brokenness of a fallen world. Not in 100 days or 100 years.

Yet neither should we be hopeless. We can seek to influence, support, and encourage a Prime Minster’s integrity, vision for good, and willingness to work hard, be accountable, and support truth.

God’s word speaks into the challenges of our day with reality and hope. We can thank God for some of what the Prime Minster has achieved in his first 100 days, and continue to pray for him and all our political leaders in how they choose to respond to the challenges ahead.

Pray for the Prime Minster to be surrounded by advisors who provide wise counsel, who protect the freedom of believers to lead a quiet life and promote the good of God’s vision for every person, family and community.

Pray for the Holy Spirit to open doors for us to share God’s better story for many of the social, political and economic challenges we faces with our leaders; that He might open their hearts, and for the truth, hope and love of our message to resonate across Parliaments, parties and politicians.

Pray for all the team at CARE, the alumni of our Leadership Programme, and other faithful believers in the public square, that we might be agents of light and faithful ambassadors of the Word.