David Cameron was forced to defend Rishi Sunak in an awkward TV exchange after being shown a naff TikTok video of him pouring milk.
The Foreign Secretary was quizzed on the PM’s communication skills by Sky News host Sir Trevor Phillips, who questioned whether Mr Sunak is able to get his message across. Lord Cameron was told his own social media videos are in a “different class” to his boss’s.
Sir Trevor played a clip of Mr Sunak gloating about his National Insurance cut – by pouring milk into a glass mug with £900 scribbled on the side. The video was widely mocked when it was shared last month. By contrast viewers were first shown a social media video of an authoritative-looking Lord Cameron describing the risks the world faces.
In Mr Sunak’s video, music plays as the PM sits down, tips a lot of milk into a clear cup of coffee, smiles and stands up again. The £900 on the side of the cup was meant to illustrate the amount ministers claim the average worker will save per year after NI contributions dropped to 8%.
But Sir Trevor said he was puzzled. He told Lord Cameron: “Let us be honest, the first clip is in a different class to the second one. Why can’t he do what you did?”
Former PM Lord Cameron responded that Mr Sunak’s clip is “more retail”. He said: “Well, the second is more retail, and actually, I think the fact that pensions are going up by £900 and National Insurance…” Sir Trevor butted in, saying he hadn’t realised that was what Mr Sunak was saying. Lord Cameron went on: “I think actually Rishi plays that extremely well.”
But Sir Trevor seemed unconvinced, and asked the Tory frontbencher if the PM is the right person for the job. He told Lord Cameron: “The point is that the leader has to be able to communicate both the message and the mood and the feel and persuade people… It’s quite a striking contrast that you seem to be able to do this very well. He doesn’t.
“And I suppose the question that’s being asked is, your back’s against the wall – is this the right man to be leading? Lord Cameron responded: “Definitely”, praising the PM for taking a “brave” stand against Liz Truss’s disastrous policies. He went on: “I sit around the Cabinet table and I see someone who’s an extremely strong and clear leader.”