Rishi Sunak offers 'financial advice' to members of the public in bizarre video

03 April 2024 , 11:00

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Rishi Sunak offers 'financial advice' to members of the public in bizarre video

Mega-rich Rishi Sunak has apparently surprised members of the public offering them "financial advice", according to No10.

In a video released by Downing Street the PM boasts about measures taken at the Budget last month as he asked about help for small businesses. The clip states: "Members of the public were invited to speak to a financial adviser. But they didn't know that the adviser was the Prime Minister."

It comes after figures showed earlier this year the UK entered a recession and as rising prices, interest rates and sky-high rents continue to pile pressure on families across the country. Labour frontbencher Jonathan Ashworth said: "Rishi Sunak is the last person who should be giving financial advice.

He added: "Struggling families already paying the price of Tory chaos will give short shrift to Rishi Sunak’s advice on personal finances or help for small businesses when he is preparing to unleash more Tory chaos with a £46 billion unfunded bombshell which will threaten the state pension as we know it and put more pressure on mortgages. Tory chaos has landed the British taxpayer with a £8.2 billion bill. With losses that large, you wouldn't keep Rishi Sunak as your financial adviser for long."

No10 said members of the public were invited to speak to a 'financial adviser'

As the people appear on a video call with No10, an official slips away before the Tory leader appears on camera, with one telling him she's "pleasantly surprised". Mr Sunak is then asked about the pressures facing small businesses, work to encourage firms to hire apprentices, and support for pubs.

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The PM said the Government froze alcohol duty at the Budget and will "fully fund" the training of apprentices so small businesses are not out of pocket.

The clip shows one pub owner saying "you guys are doing a great job" to which the PM replied: "I appreciate that and what you've said is what I hear across the country. We've been through a really tough time but we've been through the worst of it and at the start of this year things are looking up, so onwards we go."

Liberal Democrat Treasury spokeswoman Sarah Olney MP responded: "The brass neck of a Prime Minister whose party crashed the economy to give financial advice on dealing with it is baffling. The Conservatives trashed our economy and now the country has been plunged into Rishi's recession. After the Conservative's handing of mortgage rates, the cost of living crisis and so much more, Rishi Sunak is the last person people trust to get financial advice from."

Ashley Cowburn