When I first saw the headlines about Rishi Sunak asking a homeless man if he was in business, I shared the view that it showed how out of touch he was with reality – that’s what headlines do. The thoughtful article by Simon Hattenstone and Daniel Lavelle made me rethink and recognise my own prejudices and preconceptions, which I usually try to be aware of and compensate for (Critics mocked Sunak for asking a homeless man if he is in business. The critics are wrong, 27 December).
Homeless people are drawn from many walks of life, yet we persist in thinking that they must be people of low capacity, with poor prospects, who are somehow responsible in some way for their homelessness. The writers are right when they say: “The fact that this conversation became a source of hilarity for so many people says more about us and our prejudices than it does about Sunak.”
I also wonder if the reaction had an element of people thinking that Sunak isn’t really one of us and doesn’t quite understand social norms. Thanks, Simon and Daniel, for reminding me that we are all guilty of making assumptions about people, even when we think we do not.
Meher Pocha
Letchworth, Hertfordshire
• If our prime minister believes that business and finance careers are possible for homeless people, then his vision is one I would like to see realised. If Rishi Sunak takes the time to engage with disadvantaged communities, then mocking him for his efforts is counterproductive – how else is he to rectify his perceived lack of understanding? I think the debate could more fruitfully centre on access to opportunities for the homeless and disadvantaged.
Barbara Loon
Horncastle, Lincolnshire
• I run a food bank and one of our key concerns is operating with respect. I agree that Rishi Sunak wasn’t excruciating – he was responding without assumptions, which is a key tenet in maintaining dignity. I am not a big Tory fan, but in this he was right. Presuming a homeless person couldn’t possibly be in business illuminates preconceptions, instantly writes that person off and shows a lack of understanding in who is hungry in our society today. Hunger isn’t a class issue any longer.
Fiona Dalgleish
Peebles, Scottish Borders
• It’s good to see some considered comment on this farcical fuss. I am no Tory supporter, but the gleeful response to this conversation exposed not only the prejudiced perceptions that Simon Hattenstone and Daniel Lavelle describe, but also the fact that many of the critics did not listen closely (or at all) to the recording. What Rishi Sunak actually asked was: “Do you work in a business?” That “a” shows that he meant any business, which encompasses a vast number of jobs. He did not ask whether the guy worked in corporate finance.
Sue Johnson
London
• Rishi Sunak’s conversation with Dean was annoying because he asked closed questions. It came across as controlling the narrative so that he could use the encounter to push his own agenda for the camera. I’d have seen it differently if he’d asked Dean for his story. When I speak to people on the street, I first ask if they’ve eaten and then use open questions to start a conversation and listen to them. But listening to people isn’t this government’s strength.
Pauline Galloway
Ladybank, Fife
