Rishi Sunak criticized for using erasable ink to take notes and sign documents

The Prime Minister has been photographed holding a Pilot V fountain pen on several occasions, including during a Cabinet meeting, raising secrecy concerns as the 'ink can be erased

The PM was photographed several times holding an erasable fountain pen (

Image: Rory Arnold / Avalon)

Rishi Sunak has come under fire after it emerged that he routinely uses erasable ink pens when taking notes on official documents.

He was photographed holding a Pilot V fountain pen, which costs £4.25, on several occasions, raising concerns about secrecy.

This raised concerns that his writings could be erased from documents given to official inquiries or used by historians to reconstruct the workings of government.

But No10 this morning said the PM had never used the wipe function - and never would.

As well as using an erasable pen in the Cabinet a fortnight ago, Mr Sunak was also photographed using them while signing official letters and at a meeting of the European political community in Moldova this month.

No10 said that pens are a standard issue in the public service (

Picture:

© No10 Crown Copyright / eyevine)

The pens have an erasable ink logo and the makers boast that they are "ideal for those learning to write in ink because if you make a mistake the ink will be erased with 'standard ink erasers'.

Tom Brake, who heads the campaign group Unlock Democracy, that the use of pens is further eroding public trust.

Referring to the bitter row between the Government and the Covid inquiry over Boris Johnson's WhatsApp messages, he said: 'When trust in politicians is at its lowest, the Prime Minister signing official documents at the erasable ink could get it through the floor and into the basement."

"Erasable ink, lost cellphones and disappearing WhatsApp messages add to the picture of a cavalier attitude to ensure the government is accountable for its actions."