Rishi Sunak may think he looks like a man of the people but in reality he has revealed himself as a pampered prince.
A day after his Spring Statement flopped, the Government was today forced to admit the Chancellor borrowed a Kia Rio from a Sainsbury’s employee to stage a photo of him filling it with petrol – which he paid for.
In reality, Mr Sunak is more likely to be chauffeur-driven in a much fancier car.
To further show how of touch he is, Mr Sunak told an interviewer today the food where he would most notice a price rise was bread, because “we have all different breads in my house”. The gaffe led to him being branded “Rishi Antoinette” on Twitter.
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Then footage emerged of Mr Sunak apparently struggling to pay for a tiny can of Coca-Cola in a shop, because he kept trying to tap his contactless card on the barcode reader. He once in an interview described himself as a “massive Coke addict” –which, he quickly clarified, meant the drink.
But he also revealed he is a cola snob, and prefers the formula only available by importing bottles from Mexico. His expensive tastes don’t end there. In pictures released before his 2021 Budget, the Chancellor was shown wearing £95 designer flip flops made by LA brand Palm Angels.
In December 2020, just days after freezing public sector pay for millions of workers, the Mirror revealed he had dined with his wife, Akshata Murthy, at Mayfair’s 5 Hertford Street – known as London’s most secretive private members’ club.
Mrs Murthy’s business interests came under the spotlight today amid questions about whether Mr Sunak’s family had benefited from interests in Russia. But unlike other ministers, Mr Sunak has resisted calls to declare his wife’s shareholdings on the Register of Members’ Interests.
He insists he “followed the ministerial code to the letter”. A few months ago Mr Sunak was the toast of the Conservative Party.
The telegenic Chancellor was praised for the generosity of the furlough scheme and his slick performances at the Covid press conferences. But his Spring Statement did not just land badly, it belly-flopped. There was nothing extra to help people with the cost of living, an additional 1.3 million people will be dragged into poverty and workers are going to be hit with higher taxes. Those who had shares in Sunak are now trying to offload them.
The fall in his stock seems to have happened overnight but the Chancellor’s downfall has been in the making ever since he stepped into Number 11.
He was presented by his slick PR machine as a nerdy guy who wears a hoodie, has a nice haircut and wouldn’t offend your mother.
He was a safe pair of hands whose grasp of detail and measured manner offered a reassuring contrast to Boris Johnson.
Spring Statement 2022
With UK inflation soaring to 6.2% - its fastest rise in 30 years - millions of households will be worrying about their own finances.
The 2022 cost of living crisis is hitting energy prices, fuel and the cost of food, with the government's only solution so far to offer all households a £200 loan to help pay off their energy bills - which must be paid back eventually.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak's Spring Statement saw him announce a cut in fuel duty, although this will cost the Treasury billions without putting cash back in families' pockets.
So how will the Spring Statement affect you?
- The 13 huge big cost of living blows hitting you from next Friday
- What the fuel duty cut actually means - and whether we'll see the difference in our pockets
Everything you need to know about the National Insurance cut
The UK's current inflation rate amid the Spring Statement - as Brits are left with crippling costs
- Keep up with live announcements from the Statement in the Mirror's live blog
If you need help with the cost of living crisis, we've put together a list of charities and schemes offering advice and grants to keep you and your family warm and fed this year.
But beneath the soft-speaking and cosy leisurewear was a Thatcherite Tory, whose privileged upbringing, private education and vast family wealth has apparently left him struggling to understand the real world.
And Mr Sunak’s decision-making was called into question long ago. Analysis found his “Eat Out to Help Out” campaign failed to deliver a long-term boost to struggling restaurants – but that it did push up Covid infections.