Rishi Sunak has left people cringing after he mixed up the names of two northern towns live on air.
Speaking about towns receiving extra funding as part of his levelling up agenda and budget on BBC Breakfast this morning, Sunak appeared as if he hadn’t had his own breakfast after he waxed lyrical about how the government was going to support the town he was in, repeatedly forgetting he wasn’t actually in it.
He said: “It is not just about being in the North, by the way, we’re here in Burnley but if you are growing up in a village in the South West or even on the South Coast, people want to feel the opportunity is there for them, wherever they happen to be.
“I put it down to two things.
“One is having pride in the place you call home and a lot of what we announced yesterday, the levelling-up fund – bids like Burnley Market, the world-famous Burnley Market – benefitting from £20 million of investment.
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“That’s going to create jobs. It is about improving the everyday infrastructure of our communities.”
So far, so slick - except he wasn’t “here in Burnley”, which is in Lancaster. He was actually 20 miles down the road in Greater Manchester’s Bury. Awkward.
Reacting to his gaffe, people found it pretty awkward:
Interesting that Chancellor Rishi Sunak is talking @BBCBreakfast about Burnley market while sitting in Bury market. Photo op yes, attention to detail & really caring? No.
— Christine Morgan (@Chris5anne) October 28, 2021
Oops! Fellow Lancastrians won't be happy. Rishi sitting among the famous black puddings of Bury Market just called it "Burnley Market" twice
— David Oliver (@mancunianmedic) October 28, 2021
It’s only midday and the Chancellor has already managed to confuse Bury for Burnley and Leeds for Pudsey. A top morning’s work. https://t.co/5PIVQ8iS5U
— Paul Ovenden (@OvePM) October 28, 2021
@RishiSunak you’re in BURY market, not Burnley market
— Deb Ludford (@DebLudford) October 28, 2021
@RishiSunak doesn't even know where is. Close enough begins with a B. World famous Burnley Market when obviously in Bury. pic.twitter.com/wbRaLKlENg
— Dravid Bown #GTTO (@FantazeeCafe) October 28, 2021
Rishi Sunak described Bury Market, while at Bury Market this morning, as the "world famous Burnley market".
— Rachel Wearmouth (@REWearmouth) October 28, 2021
Oh dear.
During the budget yesterday Sunak did announce that Bury and Burnley were among the towns receiving funding so at least he got that right.
He also announced changes to alcohol taxes, flights and universal credit, but will people remember the intricacies of his various policies or his poor geography of northern England?
