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Why soggy Sunak was sunk before he started
Another victim of the tradition trap
When Rishi Sunak, Britain’s (probably outgoing) prime minister, announced the UK general election, he decided to do so outside 10 Downing Street in the middle of a torrential downpour. He didn’t use an umbrella or wear a coat.
Most watching couldn’t concentrate on what he was saying. I’ve watched it back a few times and still can’t manage it. I’m always too mesmerised by the sight of his extremely expensive, tailored suit getting increasingly trashed, drop by merciless drop. It already looked a bit too small for him when he started speaking, by the time he slid miserably back into No 10, I can only imagine he had to be cut out of it.
And it wasn’t just the deluge. There was also the background noise. Protesters with a massive loudspeaker started playing ‘Things Can Only Get Better’ the D:Ream hit that the opposition Labour Party used as their campaign song in 1997. The prime minister was drowned out in more ways than one.
