Following the defeat in the local election last month, Rishi Sunak is reaching out to voters with a pre-election speech.

Since the Cuban Missile Crisis, the world is at its most vulnerable to nuclear war, the prime minister has informed voters.

Speaking from London, he is pledging that “more will change in the next five years than in the last thirty” if the Conservatives get re-elected.

He says voters face a stark choice in whom they choose to govern the nation at a time of unprecedented global volatility and technological advancements.

Touting his leadership in areas such as security, he is seeking to draw a dividing line with Labour over defence spending following his commitment to hike it to 2.5% of gross domestic product by 2030.

It comes as his Conservative Party dropped behind Labour in the polls suffering a mauling in local and regional elections earlier this month.

Mr Sunak’s worries worsened with the astonishing defection of MP Natalie Elphicke in protest against his record on housing and stopping small boat Channel crossings.