Coffee House

Andrew Neil’s interview with Rishi Sunak – as it happened

Neil probed the PM candidate on his tax returns, inflation and soaring energy bills

Channel 4

Rishi Sunak was interviewed by Andrew Neil on Channel 4 tonight. He was quizzed on inflation, the NHS backlog and more. Liz Truss, the bookies’ favourite, declined to take part in an interview with Neil.

8.50 p.m. – Did Sunak’s gamble pay off?

Kate Andrews writes… Rishi Sunak took a major risk tonight, agreeing to a one-on-one interview with Andrew Neil on Channel 4 news. As Katy Balls says on our reaction podcast, more often than not politicians come crawling out of Neil’s interviews. At best, they hope to survive them. All things considered Sunak did indeed survive tonight’s interview. But is survival enough? He agreed to the grilling in an effort to kickstart his polling amongst the Tory grassroots; on his own admission he is behind Liz Truss. Tonight’s interview provided a lot of interesting discussion, as well as a reminder that – agree with him or not – Sunak can hold his own when it comes to economic debate. But voters will be familiar with these credentials. The bigger question, soon to be revealed in the polls, will be whether he managed to sway hearts and minds. Read more here.

8.03 p.m. – Is Sunak too posh for PM?

Katy Balls writes… Andrew Neil has just brought up an awkward clip that’s been circulating on social media. In the clip, a young Rishi Sunak is seen saying that he has a mix of friends before suggesting he has working class friends and then suggesting he doesn’t after all. Sunak responds to the question by refusing to get into the detail – suggesting a lot of people misspeak in their youth and that he ultimately does understand the real world from his childhood where he helped his parents with work.

8.00 p.m. – No answers on asylum questions 

Kate Andrews writes… Andrew Neil asks if there is something ‘unsavoury’ in Sunak’s willingness – coming from an immigrant family, that he is prepared to cap and turn away asylum seekers with a valid claim to come to the UK.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Keep reading with a free trial

Subscribe and get your first month of online and app access for free. After that it’s just £1 a week.

There’s no commitment, you can cancel any time.

Or

Unlock more articles

REGISTER

Comments

Don't miss out

Join the conversation with other Spectator readers. Subscribe to leave a comment.

Already a subscriber? Log in