Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited Churchill China in Stoke-on-Trent on May 28, 2024, as part of his campaign ahead of the July 4 General Election. During the visit, Sunak was accompanied by Jonathan Gullis, deputy chairman of the Conservative Party and MP for Stoke-on-Trent North. He engaged with factory workers, participated in a plate-painting activity, and later addressed questions from the company’s staff about his proposed national service scheme and the Conservative Party’s pension policy.
Sunak's national service scheme would require 18-year-olds to serve 12 months in the military or participate in monthly volunteer activities. He also spoke about his plans to increase the income tax personal allowance for pensioners, promising a tax cut that would be worth £95 in 2025-26 and rise to £275 by 2029-30. This announcement was part of the Conservative Party's "triple lock plus" policy to ensure pensions and personal allowances rise by the highest of inflation, average wages, or 2.5%.
Additionally, Sunak's campaign has faced criticism from opposition party Labour, which has dismissed his pension policy as a desperate move. They have also scrutinized the national service scheme, likening it to a "teenage Dad’s Army." Sunak highlighted the aim to foster a culture of service and pointed to existing measures such as veterans minister Johnny Mercer’s inclusion in the Cabinet.