RISHI Sunak has been fooled after meeting with a fake “war hero” who turned out to be a former pub singer, it has been revealed.
Last month, the Prime Minister attended a veterans summit at 10 Downing Street.
During the visit, he chatted to Chris Webber – a 64-year-old who has claimed to have served nine years in the army and boasted about being one of the first soldiers to land in the Falklands during the unofficial war in 1982.
However, members of a veterans’ group which unmasks fake war heroes – the Walter Mitty Hunters Club – spotted that two of Webber’s medals were non-military and that his cap badge dated from the reign of George VI.
It turned out that Webber had bought the items online.
After the group contacted him online Webber claimed to be the Prime Minister’s veterans’ adviser and waxed lyrical about his time in the Falklands – despite never having been there.
No one, not least those who have served this country, should be homeless. Today @VeteransGovUK has announced a £8.5M package to tackle veteran homelessness and provide a central point to help those in need. The PM met charities & veterans earlier to welcome this announcement. pic.twitter.com/vC100mugKv
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) December 21, 2022
He said: “I was quickly seconded to the Intelligence Corps as I spoke fluent Spanish. I was a spook.
“On 5th April 1982, I landed as part of a four-man covert team to observe enemy movements. I was there 74 days and lost 255 colleagues to Argentinian hostilities. I once adopted the role of an enemy soldier… if I’d been sussed goodness knows what would have happened to me.
“Losing friends who were like brothers to me has been very difficult.”
After being confronted by the group Webber apologised and admitted his dishonesty.
Webber’s only army experience was three months in the Territorial Army when he was in his 20s.
In actuality, his career has included time as a holiday rep and pub singer in Spain where he went by the name “Cushty”.
A spokesperson for the Walter Mitty Hunters Club said: “The club solely exists to act as a deterrent to those who wish to masquerade as a veteran, a serving member of the armed forces and those who exaggerate their service.
“Such people undermine genuine time-served veterans and those still serving in the eyes of the public.”
A government spokesman said: “The Government is committed to ending veteran rough sleeping and helping those at risk of homelessness.
“We recently announced an £8.5 million funding package for charities to deliver health and education services in more than 900 housing units.
"Due diligence checks are carried out for these events.”
Webber said he felt “absolutely dreadful” and claimed his deceit stemmed from a desire to emulate his father and grandfather, who allegedly both served in WW2.
