Facts

The spokesperson for the Prime Minister was reiterating the statement made by Rishi Sunak on the steps of Downing Street after becoming Prime Minister on 25 October 2022. When uttered at the very start of the Sunak period in office, the statement had some credibility and offered hope for a change in approach from the habitual lies and general dishonesty that characterised the Johnson premiership. It has zero credibility today following the Prime Minister’s repeated dishonesty in high office, many examples of which are provided on this website. 

Moreover, Rishi Sunak has shown startling tolerance of low standards among his ministerial team. The most notorious by recalling Suella Braverman as Home Secretary six days after she resigned followed a breach of the Ministerial Code. 

Verdict

The No 10 spokesperson may have been correct in insisting that Rishi Sunak was “clear that integrity, professionalism and accountability are core values of his government”. Tragically for both Rishi Sunak and for Britain, those values have played no discernible role in guiding Rishi Sunak’s conduct as Prime Minister, if anything the reverse.

We emailed Rishi Sunak’s office and Number 10 offering him the chance to respond. The email was received, but no reply.