Inside Rishi Sunak's day trip to Paris as he admits it's 'tough' being PM
Being Prime Minister is “tough” but a privilege, Rishi Sunak admitted today as he embarked on a gruelling weekend of diplomacy.
The Conservative leader was speaking as the 7.01am Eurostar from London to Paris sped through Northern French countryside at 186mph.
Fourteen hours earlier, his Government announced the latest delay to Britain’s long-awaited HS2 railway, sparking fresh accusations the Tories were betraying Northern voters.
Boarding Eurostar service 9004 under William Henry Barlow’s stunning Victorian roof at St Pancras Station, the Prime Minister was looking forward to a day of meetings in the French capital - and reigniting his “bromance” with Emmanuel Macron.
As the train increased its pace as it headed South East from central London, the PM was briefed by officials on the day’s headlines - and what the travelling Press pack might grill him about during the question-and-answer session PMs don’t really like.
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Escorted by aides and his close protection officers, jacketless Sunak sauntered through his Business Premier carriage, greeting Eurostar staff as he made his way to the neighbouring coach 15 where reporters waited.
The PM took the Eurostar to Paris (AFP via Getty Images)“Yikes alive!” exclaimed the Premier, as he saw more than two dozen assembled newshounds pressed tightly together for the “huddle”.
“Are you guys not boiling here?”
He had a point: it was very warm.
Guided to seat 63, Sunak sat down and, unlike his predecessors, opted not to spend five minutes telling journalists what he hoped to achieve over the coming hours.
Instead he - generously, it has to be said - decided to maximise the time available for scrutiny.
Fielding questions from 25 reporters, topics ranged from his commitment to the European Convention on Human Rights and tax policy to his “bromance” with Macron.
The Elysee Palace had, cheekily, compared the pair’s relationship with the classic film Casablanca - leading one newsman to ask Sunak who would play the Humphrey Bogart role and who would be cast as Ingrid Bergman.
The PM laughed but declined to answer.
He answered questions from 25 journalists (Kin Cheung/AP/REX/Shutterstock)However, during the session, he defended delaying HS2, intensified a spat with Gary Lineker over Channel migrants and insisted he wanted lower taxes in the long term.
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But, in the very last question, he offered a revealing glimpse into the struggles which face every incumbent of No10.
“It is tough, of course it’s tough,” admitted Sunak.
“The situation is tough, but it is a great privilege.
“Look at what we’re doing - I’m getting to represent our country and talk to the French President about how we can strengthen the cooperation between our two countries on incredibly important things which will make a huge difference to the lives of 65 million people that I represent.”
The Prime Minister held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)He added: “I am confident that we are doing the right things that will make a difference to people’s lives and even if you don’t see the benefit of that everyday – inside I look in the mirror every day and I’m working as hard as I can.
“I’m doing the right thing and that in time it will make a difference to people’s lives, and that’s what keeps you going.”
His 40-minute inquisition complete, the PM returned to his carriage for the remainder of the journey.
The train pulled into Gare du Nord on time at 10.23am, with French police and security staff taking Sunak to the waiting convoy as cameras clicked.
Bemused French passengers and some British visitors watched as the UK leader and his entourage strode from the platform onto the station concourse.
The group was then directed to a shiny black Land Rover Discovery, flying the Union Flag from its passenger side wing as blue lights flashed en route to the Elysee for his meeting with Macron.
With a nod to Saturday’s England v France Six Nations match at Twickenham, the pair swapped rugby shirts signed by the teams.
Unusually, they then opted to hold more than an hour of talks one on one, with no aides or even an interpreter.
The decision was made “shortly in advance”, according to No10.
Sunak’s spokesman said: “That was not the original plan, it was a decision taken by the Prime Minister and the President themselves.
Their "bromance" prompted much comment (Liewig Christian/ABACA/REX/Shutterstock)“It’s always beneficial for leaders to have good relations and good discussions on a range of issues.
“I think this is no different.”
They both spoke English and their respective chiefs of staff were invited in only at the very hand.
“It was a warm and productive meeting,” said the PM’s spokesman.
The pair talked about rugby and agreed on “further collaboration on a range of issues”, including defence, energy security and illegal migration.
Later, they ate a lunch of vegetarian sushi to start, turbot with artichoke for main and a praline tart dessert.
They were joined for the meal by Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, Home Secretary Suella Braverman, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, Energy, Security and Net-Zero Secretary Grant Shapps, Transport Secretary Mark Harper and Environment Secretary Therese Coffey - and their French counterparts.
The pair also met business leaders before hosting their closing press conference, where they looked longingly at each other as they confirmed new Anglo-French were on the road to post-Brexit recovery.
They shared clinches and, after his opening statement, the PM even simpered to Macron: “Merci, mon ami.”
After half an hour, their date was done and Sunak headed for home.
As the Eurostar pulled back into St Pancras tonight, he was preparing for his next diplomatic mission.
On Sunday, he flies to San Diego for defence talks with US leader Joe Biden and Australian PM Anthony Albanese over the Aukus military pact to build nuclear-powered submarines for Canberra.
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