Politics live: Rishi Sunak taken to task over ‘utterly bizarre’ and ‘vacuous’ Rwanda news briefing | Politics News

Rishi Sunak’s message at his Downing Street news briefing was “stick to the plan” (see post at 10.16am).

But his strategy was to stick to the script – relentlessly.

His aim was to warn the unelected House of Lords not to wreck his Rwanda bill after it cleared the elected Commons with a relatively healthy majority of 44.

But there was nothing subtle about the way he delivered his ultimatum to their lordships and some MPs and peers believe it may have backfired spectacularly.

In an appearance in Downing Street behind his “Stop the Boats” podium, lasting just under 27 minutes, Mr Sunak said “stick to the plan” – or very similar – no fewer than 15 times.

And if we were in any doubt about Labour’s alternative, at least according to the prime minister, he said it would be “back to square one” eight times.

In all, Mr Sunak said the word “plan” a remarkable 41 times, which worked out at a mention every 40 seconds during his opening remarks and 11 questions from journalists.

Of course, we’re used to recent Tory prime ministers repeating a short, simple slogan over and over again. It has been very successful. But not always.

“Take back control” – a Dominic Cummings slogan – and “get Brexit done” – credited to Tory election guru Isaac Levido – worked well for Boris Johnson in the 2016 EU referendum and 2019 general election.

But Theresa May was ridiculed for repeating “nothing has changed” when she insisted she hadn’t performed a U-turn on a social care policy during the 2017 election campaign.

So, during his news conference Mr Sunak’s repetition of his “stick to the plan” slogan went like this…

1. Stick to our plan
2. Stick to the plan
3. Stick to the plan
4. Stick to the plan
5. Stick to the plan
6. Our plan that’s working, stick with it
7. Sticking with the plan 
8. Stick with that plan
9. Stick to that plan
10. Stick to the plan
11. Stick with us. Our plans are working already,
12. Stick with the plan
13. Stick to this plan 
14. We have got a plan that is working. If we stick with it
15. Stick with the plan

And his attack on Labour went…

1. It would take us to square one
2. The alternative is that we go back to square one
3. That would be back to square one 
4. We would go back to square one
5. Take us back to square one
6. Back to square one 
7. Back to square one
8. Back to square one

Will the repetition backfire? 

In a Sky News interview in which he predicted fierce opposition to the Rwanda bill in the Lords, crossbench peer Lord Carlile was withering about the PM’s news conference (see post at 14.34).

“It was banal, it was vacuous, and it was extremely repetitive, but it didn’t say anything new,” he said scornfully.

Repetitive, certainly. But Mr Sunak will be hoping that sticking to the script is as successful as Mr Johnson’s slogans were and that he doesn’t suffer the ridicule endured by Mrs May.