There is something accidental about Rishi Sunak. Partly it is the route he took to Downing Street, taking over from someone who had recently beaten him in a race to the top. It was unceremonious, like an athlete collecting the gold medal after the winner fails a drugs test.
But the malaise goes deeper – to the absence of a purpose beyond clearing up the mess made by previous Tory governments. If Sunak has a vision of what to achieve as prime minister, its fulfilment lies across a slurry pit filled with his predecessor’s mistakes. Even if he crosses with rare panache he will stink before reaching the other side.
