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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU that Rishi Sunak's holiday to Disneyland be headline news?

166 replies

iwillnotstaycalm · 02/08/2023 14:11

There is almost like a 'read the room' feeling on this. Personally I think it's distasteful given the current cost of living crisis - I'm not saying going on holiday is distasteful but highlighting it to the general public as headline news just seems insidious. Why is this even news ? If someone can please explain it to me that would be wonderful.

OP posts:
Mmhmmn · 04/08/2023 01:13

iwillnotstaycalm · 02/08/2023 14:28

Please actually read what I have said before commenting? I'm not talking about him going on holiday Confused as I have said - he has every right to do so.

I'm talking about why it is being highlighted to the public. Whilst many people battle their energy / mortgages / wine bills we are being told about him going on holiday to a place where many parents couldn't afford to take their kids right now.

Food for thought is all I'm asking. I'm not attacking him jfc

Just turn your question around. You've said it yourself. Cost of living crisis. PM goes on nice holiday. I don't know where it's headline news, it wasn't featured on BBC, but whatever broadcaster/paper it is they're obviously pushing the idea that HE is distasteful
(However silly or irrational etc it may seem)

FakingMemories · 04/08/2023 02:53

Well, if he’s gone to Disneyland (I haven’t seen anything in the news I read), he’s hardly doing that for himself. It’s for his children. They’ve done nothing wrong. Why shouldn’t the children go to Disneyland?

FakingMemories · 04/08/2023 02:55

expatbaby · 03/08/2023 08:55

The news has been reporting on Prime Minister's holidays for decades. The fact that a multimillionaire has taken his kids to Disneyland is more like a normal family than an exclusive island retreats many in his income bracket choose.

Also a quick Google search shows that UK visitors to Florida are almost at prepandemic levels so I don't think the COL crisis is having as much impact as you'd think.

Except Disneyland is in California so I don’t know what relevance visitors to Florida has to do with it.

stayathomer · 04/08/2023 03:02

Op he has money because he runs a country. You can’t tell people who have money to never spend it because there’s a col crisis. The media are just showing someone out having a good time because some people are interested in his life, the way people look at what the royals wear and where they holiday!

CobraKaiNeverLoses · 04/08/2023 06:10

stayathomer · 04/08/2023 03:02

Op he has money because he runs a country. You can’t tell people who have money to never spend it because there’s a col crisis. The media are just showing someone out having a good time because some people are interested in his life, the way people look at what the royals wear and where they holiday!

He has money because his wife has a net worth of circa £700 million. Nothing to do with running a country. They were rich as Croesus before he became PM and will still be rich as Croesus when he’s done.

yogasaurus · 04/08/2023 06:13

CobraKaiNeverLoses · 04/08/2023 06:10

He has money because his wife has a net worth of circa £700 million. Nothing to do with running a country. They were rich as Croesus before he became PM and will still be rich as Croesus when he’s done.

That’s not a crime, although you wouldn’t think it sometimes. Seems some think he should just give their money away as a penance for being wealthy.

Ozziedream · 04/08/2023 06:16

My band 5 (nhs) secretary is at Disneyland at the moment. If it’s good enough for her, reckon it’s ok for the PM who hasn’t had a holiday for four years.

jgw1 · 04/08/2023 06:19

yogasaurus · 04/08/2023 06:13

That’s not a crime, although you wouldn’t think it sometimes. Seems some think he should just give their money away as a penance for being wealthy.

I do think it would be nice if he paid at least the same proportion of his income in taxes as he insists that teachers and nurses have to.

Donesosavemyusernamesettings · 04/08/2023 06:26

I don’t think it’s awful for him to be on holiday but it’s a bit tone deaf for him to be posing for pictures on what’s an expensive holiday by most people’s standards, and in the same breath telling people to ‘hold their nerve’ when they can’t even pay their mortgages.

User265438765 · 04/08/2023 07:06

Prime Ministers always have the holiday photoshoot done though, it like official pictures almost, I doubt his family enjoyed having to pose for them.

Sceptre86 · 04/08/2023 07:17

The media want to stir up shit, chuck in a bit of racism too. He had every right to go on holiday and every prime minister before him has done so and every one after will too. There is a tendency in the UK of inverse snobbery. To be jealous of anyone doing well for themselves. He's a millionaire or his wife is, there's a lot of them about. They can afford a lifestyle I can only dream of so what am I going to do about it? Cry, get angry, that the rich dont have the same problems as nonormal folk? It isn't anything new. We are middle of the road, not struggling as such but live within our means and cut back where needed. We are going to disneyland paris and it took me a year to save for it. We did price up disneyworld but it's out of our reach. I don't begrudge those that can afford to go to either often.

Bananasandcorn · 04/08/2023 08:15

AgathaSpencerGregson · 03/08/2023 20:06

I dont think he’s beyond criticism. I think insinuating he will or should leave the country based on behaviour no different to many other people stinks like a sewer, and you are certainly not articulate enough to change my mind.

Oh i think you do.

Imho he is wrecking the UK, thats why i'd prefer it if he didn't come back, not race which always seem to the fall back position of people like you.

Cheesenpickleontoast · 04/08/2023 08:33

We're being manipulated by the mainstream media again. His wife is rarely seen with him and his children even less. I totally understand why his children were kept out of the press . Now that greenpeace stunt at one of his homes has happened and he isn't too popular, out comes his beautiful, wholesome family for the cameras. Pantomine booing of the greenpeace baddies and cheers for Prinicpal Boy.

jgw1 · 04/08/2023 08:35

Cheesenpickleontoast · 04/08/2023 08:33

We're being manipulated by the mainstream media again. His wife is rarely seen with him and his children even less. I totally understand why his children were kept out of the press . Now that greenpeace stunt at one of his homes has happened and he isn't too popular, out comes his beautiful, wholesome family for the cameras. Pantomine booing of the greenpeace baddies and cheers for Prinicpal Boy.

I can't help wondering if the reason the police weren't protecting this one of his 12 houses, is because he never actually visits it. After all it is in his constituency and if he is anything like my Tory MP probably allergic to visiting.

RoyalImpatience · 04/08/2023 08:37

And?

He has two young daughters. Should they be banned from the Disney because their dad is a rich pm?..

Apparently a Disney holiday is a minium of 10 grand.

There is no absolutely nothing way we could probably ever afford to go. And I wouldn't want too quite frankly unless I was extremely rich.

If I had 10 grand for a holiday I'd make it for further than Disney pocket.

But I dint begrudge him at all.

CloudyMcCloud · 04/08/2023 08:41

Cheesenpickleontoast · 04/08/2023 08:33

We're being manipulated by the mainstream media again. His wife is rarely seen with him and his children even less. I totally understand why his children were kept out of the press . Now that greenpeace stunt at one of his homes has happened and he isn't too popular, out comes his beautiful, wholesome family for the cameras. Pantomine booing of the greenpeace baddies and cheers for Prinicpal Boy.

Greenpeace did the stunt not ‘the media’. What’s the alternative not report on it?

Why would they just ignore it happened?

Blossomtoes · 04/08/2023 08:44

The media always reports on the PM’s holiday. I remember Wilson going off to the Scilly Isles in the 70s. I’m far more pissed off about the endlessly coverage of Farage and his bloody bank account - seriously, who gives a fuck?

Kiwano · 04/08/2023 08:45

AgathaSpencerGregson · 03/08/2023 15:32

Just stupid. If he were happier there he would have stayed, not put himself through the political wringer here. And so what about the green card - tons of people from the UK who’ve worked in the US have done same.
the reason people make a thing of it for him is because it plays into a classic racist trope. And the more defensively they squeal, the more we know it’s true.

I don't think "tons" of prominent members of the government have done the same.

Blossomtoes · 04/08/2023 08:47

Bananasandcorn · 04/08/2023 08:15

Oh i think you do.

Imho he is wrecking the UK, thats why i'd prefer it if he didn't come back, not race which always seem to the fall back position of people like you.

That poster’s default is to accuse others of racism @Bananasandcorn. Best not to engage.

Twyford · 04/08/2023 08:49

yogasaurus · 04/08/2023 06:13

That’s not a crime, although you wouldn’t think it sometimes. Seems some think he should just give their money away as a penance for being wealthy.

It's reasonable to expect a Prime Minister to set a good example by not evading tax.

yogasaurus · 04/08/2023 08:51

Twyford · 04/08/2023 08:49

It's reasonable to expect a Prime Minister to set a good example by not evading tax.

He’s not ‘evading’ tax. He pays according to the tax rules. You just don’t like the rules. That’s not the same thing.

Blossomtoes · 04/08/2023 08:54

His tax arrangements may be legal but they’re morally dubious. Sunak pays less of a percentage of his obscene wealth than a nurse.

DontStealTheTeddy · 04/08/2023 08:55

User265438765 · 04/08/2023 07:06

Prime Ministers always have the holiday photoshoot done though, it like official pictures almost, I doubt his family enjoyed having to pose for them.

This. It's a tradition. Happened with previous PMs and will happen with the next. That's all.

OlderandwiserMaybe · 04/08/2023 08:55

iwillnotstaycalm · 02/08/2023 14:29

I'm not wound up by it - I thought the exact same thing. It gives people ammunition but I'm unsure why ?

I think it was only in the news yesterday because his house got covered in sheets by Greenpeace as a protest. It was commented that he was away on holiday to demonstrate that he wasn't in the house at the time.
And it wasn't exactly headline news either - there were lots of other big stories yesterday.

I really don't see your problem?

CloudyMcCloud · 04/08/2023 08:59

yogasaurus · 04/08/2023 08:51

He’s not ‘evading’ tax. He pays according to the tax rules. You just don’t like the rules. That’s not the same thing.

True. Unless people are overpaying on tax unnecessarily most just follow the tax rules. It’s not ‘tax evasion’.