Rishi Sunak has refused to say if he has private healthcare - while accusing NHS nurses of demanding an “unaffordable” pay rise.
The Prime Minister claimed it was “not appropriate” to be asked whether he relies on the health system in the same way as ordinary families.
Mr Sunak is the wealthiest PM the country has ever had.
He and his wife Akshata Murty have a £730million fortune, more than twice that of the King.
As he attended the G20 summit in Bali today, he faced a grilling over the Tory government’s failure to support NHS workers.
Asked if he was ashamed that a quarter of hospitals have opened foodbanks for their staff, Mr Sunak told ITV News he had an “enormous gratitude for our nurses and all other workers in the NHS”.
But he added: ”What the unions are asking for is a 17% pay rise and I think most people watching will understand that's unaffordable.
“The way we deal with these situations, because of course they're difficult and of course people are struggling, is that we have an independent body make recommendations to the government about what a fair pay settlement is.”
He went on: “Ultimately this money is coming from taxpayers, from everybody watching. Everyone watching will also know that they're suffering rising bills, they'll be having those conversations with their own employers about what's affordable in these difficult circumstances.”
Pushed on how he felt about spiralling use of foodbanks, he said: “I think obviously it's a tragedy people have to use foodbanks… Of course want to get to a position where no one needs to use a foodbank.”
Asked if he has private healthcare, Mr Sunak said: “I wouldn't normally talk about the healthcare me or my family receive for obvious reasons.
“What's important is that we have an NHS and healthcare system that is there for people when they need…. I think most people would appreciate talking about one's family's healthcare is probably not appropriate.”
Mr Sunak was forced to defend his failure to reverse Liz Truss ’s decision to lift the cap on bankers’ bonuses whilst refusing to give public sector workers the rises they are asking for.
“Of course I would say to all executives to embrace pay restraint at a time like this,” he said. “In a situation like this I'm sure executives of most companies will be thinking about pay settlements for senior management, for their workers and making sure they are fair.”
