Can Rishi Sunak Really Empathise With Struggling Families If He's Never...

[sandyRoe]

... known poverty himself?
That was the thrust of some questions addressed to him during an interview on Radio 4 this morning.
Incidentally, which of his rivals for the role of leader of the Tories did rise above grinding poverty to get where they are today?

[naomi24]

Is having experience grinding poverty a requirement?

[douglas9401]

I'm sure he's every bit as sympathetic and understanding as the next millionaire.

[Bazile]

Let them eat cake

[sandyRoe]

Naomi,
His interlocutor didn't go quite that far, no.

[naomi24]

How did he answer the questions?

[sandyRoe]

"Judge me by my actions...", or words to that effect.

[naomi24]

So we've got to wait until he's been prime minister - if he's ever prime minister - for some time before we may judge his performance? That's no answer.

[Peter Pedant]

erm OK - what about being black or a gel?

[sandyRoe]

Surely being a gel is no longer a hindrance when fighting for a chance to be first among equals.
Being black, now that's a horse of another colour.

[douglas9401]

I think I'm almost dun.

[Buenchico]

The Labour Party seem to think that Keir Starmer, with £7,7m to his name, can empathise with struggling families.

[sandyRoe]

We know he has simple tastes, a bottle of beer and a take-out curry, for example, serve for his supper.

[Gromit]

Not sure Brown, Darling, Osborne or Hammond were any better placed to empathise with the poor either.

I would be more worried about his competency. Sunak messed up badly as Chancellor and we are in the state we are in now, chiefly because he lost control.

He needs to lose, not stand at the general election and *** off to California to enjoy his money.

[FatticusInch]

I agree Gromit.
How he has the effrontery to claim in his campaign blurb that he will sort all the fiscal problems is diabolical.
One would ask what exactly was he doing whilst previously in post at Number 11?
NOW he’s going to solve the mess he’s created?

[Peter Pedant]

// So we've got to wait until he's been prime minister - if he's ever prime minister - for some time before we may judge his performance? That's no answer.//

it certainly is Baby, since about 500 BC - er chrome tells me

Creon ( cree- who?) : no man can tell what a man will do (*)until he is versed in the laws and customs of the city ( antigone)

ἀμήχανον δὲ παντὸς ἀνδρὸς ἐκμαθεῖν
ψυχήν τε καὶ φρόνημα καὶ γνώμην, πρὶν ἂν
ἀρχαῖς τε καὶ νόμοισιν ἐντριβὴς φανῇ.


(*)the mind knowledge and standards

You know, with Naomi blaarting about experience being necessary before office, it was said before by Sophocles, 2500 before

Creon doesnt come to a happy end ( but I am telling you the plaat, Bette Midler)

[Redhelen72]

Can many if any politician ever say they have suffered poverty and know how the 'common' man feels

[Ellipsis]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-62158367

[naomi24]

//with Naomi blaarting about experience being necessary before office//

Naomi didn't. Another lie from you, PP.

[Untitled]

I don't think he needs to "empathise"... he's not writing a novel about them...

what he needs to do is carefully think about policies that will help them and improve the public services that they rely upon... you don't necessarily need empathy to do that.

sadly I don't see much evidence that he is going to do so!

[ichkeria]

I'd suggest tho that Sunak avoid the slogan "Actions Not Wealth" lol

I cannot really put my finger on why I don't like him.
Anyway, it's not up to me so ...