Tennis aficionados used to insist that Bjorn Borg had ice in his blood.
The bigger the challenge, it was said, the better the Swede used to play.
Judging by his appearances over the past week, we must therefore assume that through Rishi Sunak’s bulging veins flows nothing but pure liquid nitrogen.
For the third time in barely eight days, the new Chancellor was forced to prise open the nation’s wallet yesterday in a bid to keep the UK economy churning through the age of the coronavirus.
For the third time in barely eight days, Chancellor Rishi Sunak (pictured) was forced to prise open the nation’s wallet yesterday in a bid to keep the UK economy churning through the age of the coronavirus
To think his predecessor Sajid Javid spent six months in the Treasury and barely got a chance to peek inside the vaults.
Once again, young Rishi produced the sort of calm, cool-headed turn that far outweighed the oodles of swag he chose to throw at the ongoing crisis. As performers go, this is guy is good. He is very, very good.
The economic measures he announced, as he kept reminding us, were ‘unprecedented’. The stuff of dystopian JG Ballard short stories.
The Government would guarantee 80 per cent of wages, up to £2,500 a month, for those not working. VAT payments would be deferred until June. The private sector, for all intents and purposes, is now effectively nationalised.
Dear God, I thought watching at home, was this actually for real? As the Chancellor reeled off these extraordinary new measures, Sky News cut away to ghostly helicopter shots of empty central London streets. Waterloo Bridge? Deserted. Yup, this was really happening.
To Boris’s right stood England’s deputy medical adviser, Dr Jenny Harries. On each lectern were slogans that read ‘Stay at home’, ‘Protect the NHS’, ‘Save lives’.
Sunak had entered the Downing Street briefing room breezily. I remember people like this at school turning up for exams. While most of us stood there, knees wobbly as trifle, the likes of Rishi would be hovering in the corridor laughing and talking about what beer they were drinking.
To Boris’s right stood England’s deputy medical adviser, Dr Jenny Harries. On each lectern were slogans that read ‘Stay at home’, ‘Protect the NHS’, ‘Save lives’.
As these conferences progress, the intensity seems to dial up a notch. Boris summoned Rishi to speak the way a football coach unveils his new £80million Argentinian striker.
Enter el whizz kid. El chico de oro.
Previous chancellors have tended to be tall, imposing figures: Philip Hammond, George Osborne, Gordon Brown, Ken Clarke. Mr Sunak’s frame is so slight, you would barely expect him to survive a stiff breeze on Skegness beach.
But, oh, how he’s shot up in character the past few days. The Chancellor began by addressing people’s concerns. To those struggling with their mortgages, their food, their domestic bills. Particularly to those who have recently lost their jobs.
‘You will not face this alone,’ he said.
The Chancellor began by addressing people’s concerns. To those struggling with their mortgages, their food, their domestic bills. Particularly to those who have recently lost their jobs
Money men don’t usually do sensitivity well. They tend to be numbers guys, all clinical and precise. How novel it was to hear the Chancellor actually do the heart-string stuff. He spoke directly to workers.
‘I know it’s incredibly difficult out there – we in government are doing everything we can to support you,’ he said. ‘The Government is doing its best to stand behind [employers] and I’m asking you to do your best to stand behind our workers.’
What was striking as these shocking proposals were unveiled one by one was how calm the Chancellor remained.
His neatly parted hair barely wobbled. His brow remained bone dry. His pitch-perfect delivery soothingly assured. For the country, there was a stark, level-headed message.
Rishi Sunak: ‘We want to look back on this time and remember how in the face of a generation-defining moment, we undertook a collective national effort and we stood together. It’s on all of us’
‘I cannot promise you that no one will face hardship in the weeks ahead.’ Gulp. He ended on a flourish. He reminded everyone how we would be judged in the future ‘by our compassion’.
He added: ‘We want to look back on this moment and remember the many small acts of kindness done by us and to us. We want to look back on this time and remember how we thought first of others and acted with decency.
‘We want to look back on this time and remember how in the face of a generation-defining moment, we undertook a collective national effort and we stood together. It’s on all of us.’
Pass the Kleenex! He sounded, dare I say it, prime ministerial. To his left, Boris nodded defiantly. An interesting dynamic is now opening up between the Prime Minister and his Chancellor. Should we fear any rivalry? I don’t think so.
The best compliment we can give Boris is that he has the confidence to put people more intelligent than he is in positions of authority. As the Prime Minister headed off for yet another long weekend of tough decisions, it was at least reassuring to know he now has the best next-door neighbour he could ask for.