Rishi Sunak suffered an embarrassing mix-up during a live radio phone-in by mixing up a caller’s name with their home town.
The prime minister had to be corrected after referring to Louise from the Rhondda Valley in Wales as “Rhonda”.
The humiliating gaffe occurred as he endured an awkward half-hour grilling on LBC this morning.
Presenter Nick Ferrari said: “Louise is in the Rhondda Valley, you’re through to the prime minister. Go ahead, Louise.”
Louise said: “Good morning Nick, good morning prime minister.”
Sunak then said: “Hi Rhonda.”
Ferrari quickly interrupted to point out: “It’s Louise in the Rhondda Valley.”
The embarrassed PM replied: “Sorry Louise, I missed that. Louise, hi.”
"The next caller Louise, is in the Rhondda Valley and you're through to the Prime Minister, go ahead Louise."
"Good morning Prime Minister."
"Hi Rhonda..." pic.twitter.com/JFd5C1EL1R
— Adam Bienkov (@AdamBienkov) April 10, 2024
Social media was typically unforgiving, with the prime minister even being compared to Alan Partridge.
Rishi Sunak clearly demonstrates the amount of attention he gives to the people of Wales ?
"Hi Rhondda" ? https://t.co/V6RfKKf38I
— Jo Stevens (@JoStevensLabour) April 10, 2024
All those, um, Tory voters in the Rhondda who now won't be voting Tory ... #LBC
— Ben Glaze (@benglaze) April 10, 2024
On which he welcomed a lady called Louise from the Rhondda with ‘Hi Rhondda!’ Knowing me, knowing you. https://t.co/evosdDqK8w
— Chris Bryant (@RhonddaBryant) April 10, 2024
The Rhondda moment
Alan Partridge has nothing on Sunak#ToriesOut643#SunakOut533#GeneralElectionNow#Sunackered#ToryChaos#WeaklingSunak#ToriesDestroyingOurCountryhttps://t.co/32WdqaX9X8
— dave lawrence ??? (@dave43law) April 10, 2024
Elsewhere during the phone-in, Sunak was accused of showing “a complete lack of leadership” for failing to sack honeytrap scandal MP William Wragg, and also grilled on why he still hasn’t called an election.