NEW DELHI: UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently faced backlash for his choice of footwear—Adidas Samba sneakers—in a video discussing his Conservative government’s policies. The video, aimed at explaining the latest tax and childcare policies, sparked a discussion not about its content but about Sunak’s attempt to appear relatable through his “everyman” shoes.Comments ranged from jests about belonging to the populace to sarcastic appreciation for making the video relatable.
The sneakers, which have been sported by celebrities like Harry Styles and Rihanna, lost their “eternally cool” status, according to British GQ, the moment Sunak appeared in them. The Guardian echoed this sentiment, describing Sunak’s attempt to seem relatable as a “try-hard bid” that ultimately fell flat, a CNN report said. This response starkly contrasts with the acclaim that other politicians, such as Barack Obama and Kamala Harris, have received for their sneaker choices. Obama’s Stan Smiths and Harris’s Converse were celebrated as tasteful and appropriate, underscoring how political figures can successfully use fashion to enhance their public image when the context is right.
Meanwhile, the Conservative Party, led by Sunak, is anticipated to face a significant defeat in the upcoming national election slated for later this year. A seat projection released by YouGov on Wednesday indicates a landslide victory for the opposition Labour Party, which is expected to secure over 400 seats.
According to the YouGov model, which forecasts outcomes in individual parliamentary constituencies based on vote share estimations, the Conservatives are projected to secure merely 155 seats, while Labour is poised to win 403 out of the 650 total seats in Britain’s parliament.
Labour has consistently led the Conservatives by a double-digit margin in polls leading up to the election, which Sunak has hinted could be called in the latter half of the year.
Since 2010, the Conservative Party has been at the helm of the UK government, navigating through the complexities of Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the party has seen five different leaders during this period due to ongoing political upheaval.
The recent poll suggests a challenging path ahead for Sunak, who has struggled to rally support following a budget announcement last month that included tax cuts. This struggle comes as the country prepares for local elections in May. The latest YouGov projection even suggests the Conservatives might perform worse than in 1997, when they won only 165 seats in a devastating defeat to Labour under Tony Blair’s leadership.
Notably, high-profile Conservative members such as finance minister Jeremy Hunt and former leadership contender Penny Mordaunt are among those potentially at risk of losing their parliamentary seats, according to YouGov.
(With inputs from agencies)
The sneakers, which have been sported by celebrities like Harry Styles and Rihanna, lost their “eternally cool” status, according to British GQ, the moment Sunak appeared in them. The Guardian echoed this sentiment, describing Sunak’s attempt to seem relatable as a “try-hard bid” that ultimately fell flat, a CNN report said. This response starkly contrasts with the acclaim that other politicians, such as Barack Obama and Kamala Harris, have received for their sneaker choices. Obama’s Stan Smiths and Harris’s Converse were celebrated as tasteful and appropriate, underscoring how political figures can successfully use fashion to enhance their public image when the context is right.
Meanwhile, the Conservative Party, led by Sunak, is anticipated to face a significant defeat in the upcoming national election slated for later this year. A seat projection released by YouGov on Wednesday indicates a landslide victory for the opposition Labour Party, which is expected to secure over 400 seats.
According to the YouGov model, which forecasts outcomes in individual parliamentary constituencies based on vote share estimations, the Conservatives are projected to secure merely 155 seats, while Labour is poised to win 403 out of the 650 total seats in Britain’s parliament.
Labour has consistently led the Conservatives by a double-digit margin in polls leading up to the election, which Sunak has hinted could be called in the latter half of the year.
Since 2010, the Conservative Party has been at the helm of the UK government, navigating through the complexities of Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the party has seen five different leaders during this period due to ongoing political upheaval.
The recent poll suggests a challenging path ahead for Sunak, who has struggled to rally support following a budget announcement last month that included tax cuts. This struggle comes as the country prepares for local elections in May. The latest YouGov projection even suggests the Conservatives might perform worse than in 1997, when they won only 165 seats in a devastating defeat to Labour under Tony Blair’s leadership.
Notably, high-profile Conservative members such as finance minister Jeremy Hunt and former leadership contender Penny Mordaunt are among those potentially at risk of losing their parliamentary seats, according to YouGov.
(With inputs from agencies)