"Being rich does not disqualify someone from being Prime Minister, but Sunak falls into empathy"

While Mr Sunak and his family may take the leap every day, 700 children a week could be deprived of the opportunity to learn to swim. And it's not just happening in Yorkshire.

Sunak is able to afford to build his own private 12 x 5m swimming pool and shell out the £13,000 to run it (

Image: Reuters)

Being very rich does not prevent someone from being Prime Minister, nor should being very poor.

Honesty, integrity and competence - all of which Boris Johnson lacks - are the virtues our next head of government needs most.

But there are two more. Understanding and empathy with ordinary people whose lives depend on the decisions made by a PM. And it is in this department that Rishi Sunak falls miserably.

Today we reveal how soaring energy costs mean his constituents in Richmond, North Yorkshire, could lose the public baths they rely on for recreation and exercise.

Meanwhile, their MP can afford to build their own private 12m x 5m swimming pool and pay the £13,000 a year it takes to keep it running.

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While Mr. Sunak and his family may take the leap every day, 700 children a week could be deprived of the opportunity to learn to swim. And it's not just happening in Yorkshire.

Without government assistance, nearly eight out of 10 bathhouses face closure across the country.

Mr. Sunak is expected to promise that if he gets the top job, he will prevent that from happening. And he should take another dip - into his own hearty pocket to help his local pool.

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