Animal lovers in West Bromwich’s indoor market have access to a variety of treats for their pets, from warm coats to sprout-shaped toys and pet cologne. For more than 30 years, Dave Griffiths’ pet stall has been operating at the market, and he has witnessed West Bromwich’s political shift from a long-held Labour seat to a Conservative constituency in 2019. Griffiths believes that the majority of the country’s citizenry do not agree with the left and right extremes of politics and prefer moderate options. To him, voters get frustrated when things don’t get done, and they don’t want to turn to the extremes of politics.
The events in Westminster this week have reopened division and discussion about the Conservative Party’s direction. Rishi Sunak’s cabinet reshuffle that saw the sacking of former Home Secretary Suella Braverman and the shock return of David Cameron has reignited internal division within the party. In West Bromwich, this has not gone unnoticed by shoppers. Voters have concerns about the Rwanda plan, which looks like a terrible place where they would send asylum seekers. They are also worried about the possibility of Prime Minister Boris Johnson purposely breaking the law since the judges have said that the plan is illegal.
Sushil Kumar, who operates an Indian food truck, believes that the Rwanda plan is not the right focus and describes it as not very nice. Cutting down NHS waiting lists is one of Rishi Sunak’s five priorities, but Kumar’s wife had been waiting for four years for NHS treatment. According to the Migration Observatory, public opinion is divided on migration, and around 23% think that immigration is bad or a very bad thing. In the face of such internal pressure, Rishi Sunak opted for tough talk, but the public is sceptical about the government’s ability to achieve its goal.
The prime minister must reach out to the voters amid the lack of faith in his government displayed in polls while navigating his party’s internal divisions. Party leaders visit local cafes to highlight life beyond Westminster and connect with the citizens. In the end, it all depends on whether the prime minister can convince the public with his approach as he treads the line between political extremes and moderates
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