To think the never ending criticism of Rishi Sunak is rooted in racism?

I think he's awful, as is Liz Truss as is Boris Johnson. It's based on how they behave / actions in power / politics not what they look like. I think Sadiq Khan is great.

I disagree. I’m white so I will hold some bias and have blind spots but my issue is with his lack of moral fibre and his incompetence. Not his wealth or his skin colour. If he were a white woman or a hamster I’d feel the same.

He was asked, as someone wealthier than the king, how he keeps in touch with the experience of real people. He brought up ‘sacrifices’ and was then pushed to qualify that which he tried to dodge because he knew deep down he led a very privileged life.

The only answer to that question that I could respect and would make me feel that he’s a safe pair of hands would be;

’I have been really lucky. My parents had professional jobs and were able to prioritise my education and send me to a very good private school. I’ve never had to scrimp and save to feed myself or my family. I live a life of extreme luxury and I’m truly blessed. It’s hard for me to really understand poverty and what that feels like but I listen and learn. I want to make sure that every child has a good education and that no one worried about putting food on the table. I plan to …’

Yes, it’s all down to racism - and any criticism of Liz Truss was sexism, and any criticism of Boris is because people don’t like privileged people…

It couldn’t possibly be that they’re just shit, could it?

I don't think the puns on his name are racist. We've had puns before. Bliar, Bozo, Scameron, Liz the lettuce etc.

What Farage said was racist, of course it was.

IMHO People don't like him mainly because he represents the culmination of 14 years of Tory rule, won't accept the mess is the fault of his party, and because he fails to connect with ordinary people. Also he gets very tetchy and rude in debates and interviews.

But some people won't like him because he is a man of colour. Reform UK voters and some members of his own party, for example.

And let's not forget that he made much of his personal fortune - some of which is/was conveniently held in the Cayman Islands - while as a partner in a hedge fund. This particular hedge fund had a small but notable role in the near-collapse of RBS during the 2008 crash that required a £45BILLION bail-out by the government. He, and his colleagues, made a lot of money off that.

I don't mind people being wealthy as long as they pay their fair share. I am much more dubious about those who came out of a global financial crisis with their pockets bulging.

Never trust a small man...

Not remotely. He's the one in the driving seat.

If you go back every previous PM has got a verbal hammering.

Unfortunately his colour will have made him a target in media. Personally, I couldn't care less.

Most of the criticism aimed at Sunak is aimed at the chaos of the last 14 years, the lack of credibility of the Tories, and his own personal ability to connect with voters. All other leaders are facing similar criticism in some shape or form. It is what you sign up to when you stand as an MP/leader/PM. Google Spitting Image.

There will be some undoubtedly racist comments somewhere online. That is the challenge of being BAME in the public sphere. But the rest... just the nature of UK politics.

I don't think that is true of last night's interview, or at least the clips I've seen. He laid the groundwork for that question. I think that any government has a shelf life and he's stuck in the dying embers of what has been a terrible 14 years. I also don't think he's savvy enough. However I think Farage was very near the knuckle with his comments, bordering on racism.

Yes I feel it is, just as it was sexism for Theresa May. I think the only reason Margaret Thatcher seemed to avoid the sexism was by being so much like a scary boarding school house mistress that no-one dared.

I think it’s a hatred of having to work for a living that’s the problem and Rishi just happens to be the current punch bag.

The last labour government raised a lazy, entitled, tax credit dependent and work shy generation who now all have the arse ache because the gravy train ended.

Wouldn't it be racist not to criticise him.

I don't hate him because I'm a racist (I'm definitely not) and I don't hate because he's rich. I hate because he's a self serving gormless wanker.

No it’s not racism - he really is awful.

He is subject to racism, however that is on top of very valid criticism due to his incompetence and lack of common sense.

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It is a particularly bad time for someone that rich to be leading an electoral campaign. He probably wouldn't have got it as badly in the neck in 2019.

I think there's an element of racism in some of the criticism and I say that as someone who would never vote Tory! Nigel Farage for instance saying that Sunak doesn't understand 'our culture'. He's made a lot of gaffes so opened himself up to criticism though. And I think there's thinly veiled racism from some in his own party who don't like him.

No, more rooted in entitlement and the shit show of the last decade or so. I have zero issues with his race. I do have issue with what he represents and his actions

I think it's more about his wealth than racism...

It's nothing to do with racism, it's to do with him being clueless about how 90% of the country live & how hard it is for the less well off. Him moaning he had to live without Sky television as a child, there are kids who don't even have a permanent home, families using foodbanks, pensioners who can't afford to put the heating on, totally out of touch.

My issues with him are nothing to do with his race and everything to do with his fucking uselessness.

"People can't seem to handle the fact that he's wealthy and also the puns on his name"

I have some (tiny amount) sympathy with what you're saying but not about the puns. That's been going on for years and irritates me greatly - Tony Bliar etc. Childish and unnecessary.

The wealthy thing is partly wealthy=out of touch. Which is fair - what does he know of needing food banks or worrying about how to pay your gas bill? That goes for quite a few MP's.

I don't like personal criticism of anyone and try to have a bit of integrity even when discussing politics, and I agree that some criticism is pedantic.

But I don't see how it's any different to the things people have levelled at Boris, Liz Truss or David Cameron tbh.

Actually, of the many self serving ridiculous Tory PMs we've had over the last several years I find him the least obnoxious and I actually think he's been trying his best.

Unfortunately, he's just not very good at what he does. Added to which, he's come up with some really desperate policies, the Rwanda scheme being the worst of them, in my opinion, and the hill on which he was willing to die.

It's a ludicrous notion that he must not be criticised because if anyone does it's based on racism.

I honestly believe he wants an out now and hopefully that will come about on the 4 July.

My wish for that to happen has nothing to do with Rishi Sunak and racism but everything to do with the fact that we need to get rid of this appalling Tory government, most of them white, middle aged, over privileged men