Rishi Sunak is Sincerely Unimpressive

Our worst of all worlds Prime Minister

Attribution: Simon Walker / HM Treasury

British Prime Ministers have often evaded scrutiny by appearing to be something they're not. When assessing our politicians, we tend to prioritise the persona they project rather than the substance or sincerity of their politics. This phenomenon is how David Cameron portrayed himself as a socially liberal “Heir to Blair” while simultaneously wielding a Thatcherite wrecking ball against the British state. Yet, this pales in comparison to Boris Johnson, arguably the master of political acting - posturing as the champion of the Tory party's hard right while simultaneously promising new hospitals and the merits of environmentalism. However, maintaining such pretence proves challenging over time. Johnson's expanded state was incompatible with his promises to reduce immigration and refrain from increasing taxes. David Cameron teetered off the precarious balance he'd striven to maintain between his posh liberal persona and the rise of UKIP. Our current Prime Minister, though, is an anomaly. Rishi Sunak could well be our first genuinely authentic leader in a long time.

Sunak isn't immune to the so-called vibes theory of politics. In last summer's leadership election, he was viewed as the moderate alternative to Liz Truss's Margaret Thatcher tribute act - the sensible person's candidate. Throughout the campaign, he stood by his convictions - expressing his desire to abolish or reform all EU legislation before the next general election, endorsing the Rwanda deportation scheme, and preventing housing from being built on the Greenbelt. Yet, the Tory party chose Liz Truss, a pro-immigration, pro-housing Remainer, to lead them. Sunak's ambition to steer Britain was almost derailed by the vibe he projected, and yet he never really strived to disguise his true beliefs.

When Boris Johnson, who openly confessed to having used cannabis and cocaine in the past, proclaimed that drugs were harmful and that we must intensify our efforts to combat them, I wasn't convinced. However, when Sunak - a teetotal, family-oriented man with deep religious convictions - voices the same sentiment, I find myself believing him. Johnson professed to champion fiscal responsibility, yet recklessly spat out unfunded spending commitments as if they were candy spewing from a faulty vending machine. In contrast, Sunak, regardless of political convenience, has consistently chosen paths likely to ensure short term stability over growth or enhanced living standards. He remained unwavering even in the lead-up to Johnson's downfall, when it might have boosted his standing to be slightly more adventurous in pursuit of favourable headlines.

It's glaringly apparent that Sunak leans considerably further to the right than Johnson. Unlike his predecessor, he genuinely believes in reducing migration, adopting a more authoritarian stance on crime, and subscribing to the Thatcherite concept of prudent state spending mirroring a household budget. Don't live beyond your means. Don't succumb to union pressure. Yet, the Tory right despise him. He's the man who allegedly betrayed Boris Johnson - a faux conservative who doesn't champion low taxation or market power. He certainly doesn't do himself any favours by proposing policies such as voluntary price caps on staple foods. However, fundamentally, Sunak is a fairly typical right-wing Tory. Those who label him a pseudo-conservative are projecting a facade onto Sunak that simply doesn't exist.

Unfortunately for the Prime Minister, moderates have committed the same error from the opposite side. They hailed his arrival in office as a sensible respite following the chaos of the Truss weeks. Yet, they've discovered that they're not being led by a moderate centrist. As economic growth stagnates, infrastructure creaks, and public services falter, Sunak appears more preoccupied with balanced books and refugee deportation. He perfectly epitomises the disconnect between the Tory party's focal point and that of the nation as a whole. As ordinary people grapple with a stifling housing crisis, the Prime Minister has made housing development more difficult, as a cost-of-living crisis envelopes the country, his Deputy Party Chairman suggests we should simply endure it and eat Weetabix.

This is the problem for Sunak. He lacks a compelling guise. His party don't want him and if the polls are to be believed neither does the country. None of this would be immediately significant if he possessed a compelling vision to eradicate Britain's low-growth crisis. But his instincts are too managerial - in policy terms, he's averse to risk. Britain is becoming a second-world country because taxes are too high, planning is broken, and our governing party has become so obsessed with cultural issues that it seeks to cut migration amidst record job vacancies. Sunak is the worst of all possible worlds; an unwanted Prime Minister answering questions no one is asking. But he's not a liar, he's sincerely unimpressive.

Otterly Intriguing

Did you know that some otters - unlike most animals - make and use tools? Lacking the strong jaw required to prise open the shells of molluscs and crabs they have been known to use stones as hammers and anvils.

If you’ve enjoyed this post then please consider sharing it or subscribing if you’d like to see more. It’s free so there’s not a great deal to lose except a few seconds of your time.