UK’s PM criticised for asking homeless man if he ‘works in business’
The UK prime minister has been severely criticised for asking homeless man at shelter if he works in business. Rishi Sunak, the British prime minister, came under fire on Saturday for being out of touch with the general public after he inquired of a homeless man at a charity about his “work in business” and desire to enter the banking sector.
One of the wealthiest people in Britain and a former Goldman Sachs banker, Sunak, was serving breakfast at a homeless shelter in London on Friday when he struck up a conversation with a man who introduced himself as Dean.
“Do you work in business?” the prime minister asks the man at one point during the conversation, as he hands him a plate of sausages, toast and eggs.
“No, I’m homeless. I’m actually a homeless person,” the man replies.
Deputy leader of the opposition Labour Party Angela Rayner tweeted a tape of the conversation, calling it “excruciating,” while Bill Esterson, another Labour legislator, labelled Sunak “out of touch.”
At a time when the country is experiencing a cost-of-living crisis, Sunak’s elevation to the position of British prime minister in October made him the richest resident of Number 10 Downing Street.
According to his office, the prime minister surprised British diplomats and military personnel this week by calling them to wish them a Merry Christmas.
UK’s PM criticised for asking homeless man if he ‘works in business’
His awkward exchange with the homeless man began when the man asks Sunak if he’s “sorting the economy out”.
When the homeless man then says he is interested in business and finance, Sunak replies that he used to work in finance too, before asking: “Is that something you would like to get into?”
“Yeah I wouldn’t mind,” says Dean. “But, I don’t know, I’d like to get through Christmas first.”
