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Rishi Sunak criticised after ‘excruciating’ exchange with homeless man.

24 Dec 2022 2 minute read
Rishi Sunak outside his home in London. Photo Beresford Hodge PA Images

Rishi Sunak has come under fire for what critics called an “excruciating” exchange with a homeless man.

In footage from his visit to a homeless shelter in London on Friday, the Prime Minister can be heard asking a man he is serving food to: “Do you work in business?”

The man, called Dean, replies: “No, I’m homeless. I’m actually a homeless person.”

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner tweeted the ITV clip and wrote: “Excruciating.”

Awkward

The awkward exchange began when the multimillionaire Prime Minister was serving breakfast to the homeless man, who asked him: “Are you sorting the economy out?”

Dean then said he was interested in business, prompting Mr Sunak to ask him what kind of business.

When Dean replied finance, the Prime Minister said: “I used to work in finance, actually.”

Mr Sunak then asked: “Is that something you’d like to get into?”

“Yeah I wouldn’t mind. But, I don’t know, I’d like to get through Christmas first,” the homeless man said.

Mr Sunak asked: “What’s your plan, what are you doing this weekend?”

Dean replied that he was hoping the homeless charity St Mungo’s could help him get into temporary accommodation “so I’m not on the street”.

Shadow levelling up secretary Lisa Nandy said: “How much more out of touch could this Prime Minister be?

“After the Tories crashed the economy, sending mortgages and rents soaring, homelessness is on the rise this winter. So perhaps Rishi Sunak should focus on fixing this crisis rather than posing for excruciating photo opportunities.

“The last Labour government nearly eliminated rough sleeping, the next one will finish the job and end it for good.”


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Mick Tems
Mick Tems
1 year ago

This multi-millionaire tory isn’t fit to be PM. IndyWales NOW!

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
1 year ago

He would make a passable short-order cook in an American diner…

Gareth
Gareth
1 year ago

This is proof, if needed, how far away from the reality of the ordinary person these people are. It begs the question, how do ” ordinary ” people vote for him and his party.

David Harking
David Harking
1 year ago

I have not heard of any previous prime ministers serving food at a homeless shelter. The exchange sounds civilised. Being a tory does not necessarily mean that they enjoy seeing a world of poverty, although the left likes to portray this, and an us versus them situation where the us is often middle class and living comfortably.

Gareth
Gareth
1 year ago
Reply to  David Harking

It’s a pity that the Cambridge Uni Conservative Assoc do not share you’re view, as they all thought it highly amusing when one of them burned a £20 pound note in front of a homeless man, and laughed when someone shouted, that it should have been a £50.Tory member Ronald Coyne was proud of himself for that stunt.

David Charles pearn
David Charles pearn
1 year ago
Reply to  Gareth

Yes them posh boys love having some larks, pip old chap.

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
1 year ago
Reply to  David Harking

‘Sounds civilised’, to you perhaps. Bishop Andrew John sees it another way…

Harry Williamson
Harry Williamson
1 year ago

The word on the street in London is that he isn’t the sharpest tool in the box. This confirms it.

Kerry Davies
Kerry Davies
1 year ago

It isn’t just that they live on another planet but that they are so unbelievably stupid. How can someone so ignorant of reality be an MP let alone the PM?

Riki
Riki
1 year ago

Glad he isn’t OUR Prime minister. I, as a proud Briton do not recognise any English politicians position. After all, they are foreign and they are currently in office in a foreign country. My PM, even though I never voted for him…is Mark Drakeford.

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