Back in October, in his first speech as PM on the steps of No10, Rishi Sunak pledged to lead a government with “integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level”. How’s that coming along, Prime Minister?
Mr Sunak’s deputy, Dominic Raab, is facing multiple accusations of bullying. Tory chairman Nadhim Zahawi is in hot water because of back taxes. And Boris Johnson is in the spotlight again – this time over an £800,000 loan.
Meanwhile, six Tory MPs have been suspended since the last election over allegations which put their integrity, professionalism or accountability into serious doubt.
Today, we reveal how the Conservative Party’s chief treasurer, Mohamed Mansour, has made a mint from a business still supplying Russia’s oil and gas industry.
And how a barber lost his business after being hounded by Mr Zahawi’s family firm.
It all adds up to a governing party giving every appearance of drowning in a cesspit of sleaze – run by those who think the rules the rest of us abide by do not apply to them.
No wonder nearly 500,000 workers will walk out on Wednesday for the TUC’s day of action.
The only response from Rishi Sunak to their pleas for fair pay are anti-strike laws, which are in breach of international human rights law and United Nations labour regulations.
If the Prime Minister carries on at this rate, the UK will soon get the cold shoulder from the civilised world.
The people who will strike on Wednesday are proud of their jobs serving the public.
They pay their taxes in full and on time and they are only walking out on the work they love because Mr Sunak will not even talk to them.
We all have a right to expect those who govern us to do so with integrity, professionalism and accountability. But, as the polls consistently make clear, the voters have lost faith in the Tories being capable of any of that.
If Rishi Sunak’s pledge to ensure his party cleans up its act was sincere, then he still has much scrub-a-dub-dubbing to do.
And if he is too weak to get a grip, then the honourable course would be to wash his hands of the premiership.
By calling a General Election.
Word to Susie
Susie Dent says her favourite word at this time of year is “apricity”. It means the warmth of the sun on a chilly day.
And, by becoming a My Sighted Guide volunteer, that is exactly what the Countdown star is bringing into the lives of blind and visually impaired people.
The job entails taking them for days out – where Susie will be able to use her skills from Dictionary Corner to paint a picture in words of what they cannot see.
We would go as far as describing you as ‘towunderlic’, Susie. You’ll know exactly what we’re talking about.
But for those of us not so fluent in Old English, it means someone rather special.
