Rishi Sunak had claimed his favourite meal is “sandwiches” in a cringe-worthy appearance on ITV’s This Morning.
The Prime Minister was grilled by presenter Ben Shephard on what his last meal would be as he faces the prospect of being ousted from Downing Street when voters head to the polls tomorrow. Laughing, he said: “I’ll be at home in North Yorkshire. I haven’t made dinner plans. My favourite meal generally is sandwiches.”
He then went on to say that he would probably dig into a meat pie from his local butcher. But his claim that he loved the lunchtime staple more than any other dish triggered astonishment from viewers.
Sky News political reporter Rob Powell asked: “Did Rishi Sunak just say his favourite food is sandwiches?” Tom Larkin, who also works for the news channel, added: “Er, are sandwiches even a meal?”
Lindsey Jones joked on X that maybe the PM was eating posher sandwiches than most people, writing: “Don’t think it’s a wafer ham and processed cheese slice one.”
Another social media poster with the username “Disillusioned with Conservatives” wrote: “There we have it, Rishi Sunak’s favourite meal is sandwiches! Just sums him right up!” Another user, called TourGuideLiverp, posted: “‘Sandwiches’ is not a meal. This Sunak chap has no rizz.”
Mr Sunak was also challenged over his record in Government after he claimed: “With me you know I’ve got the courage and conviction. You always know where I am.”
But presenter Cat Deeley told him: “The problem is Prime Minister people have lost faith in that I think is what’s happened and that’s reflected in the polls and that’s reflected in why we’re looking at you not getting in again”. Mr Sunak was forced to admit that the Tories “haven’t got everything right” after years of chaos.
The PM was also taken to task over Tory spin that Keir Starmer would be a “part-time PM” after the Labour leader gave an interview saying he tried to spend Friday nights with his children. Senior Jewish figures have criticised the Tories over the attack, as Mr Starmer’s wife Victoria comes from a Jewish family and Friday nights are culturally significant time for Jews.
The PM dodged the criticism, saying: “I think what Keir was saying he was with his kids on a Friday night out watching cheerleading or kickboxing rather than doing that. But the point is this, everyone’s going to do this job in a different way.”
He added: “One of the things I’ve spoken about a lot is that doing this job means I’m not as good as dad, I’m not as good a husband, as I would love to be, and that comes with the territory of being in public service and having the responsibility to be Prime Minister, to do a great job for everyone who’s watching.”