April 26th 2024.
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Martin Lewis, the popular financial expert, took a brief pause from giving financial advice to share his opinions on the Prime Minister's actions while appearing on the BBC panel show, Have I Got News For You. As a guest host for this week's episode, Martin didn't hold back on his thoughts regarding Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Alongside regular panelist Ian Hislop and guests Ignacio Lopez, Steph McGovern, and Paul Merton, the discussion ranged from little boys impersonating seagulls to the main topic of the episode - the controversial Safety of Rwanda bill pushed through the government.
With a playful tone, the 51-year-old journalist quipped, "This is the news that in a surprising historical reversal, Britain is about to start rounding people up against their will and shipping them to Africa." This isn't the first time Martin has voiced his disagreement with government plans, as he has repeatedly spoken out against the cost of living crisis and high energy bills.
Martin had a clever and sharp criticism of Rishi Sunak at the ready. "The Rwandan scheme is proving quite expensive, with a base cost of £370m over a five-year contract and an additional charge of £150,874 per deported migrant. Although, I've done some research and found a voucher code that can save them £25 - 'S**TSHOW2024'," he joked, causing the audience to erupt in laughter.
However, Martin accidentally mispronounced Sunak as "Sonak," causing Ian to pretend not to know who he was referring to. "He's a mix between a sunbed and an anorak," added Paul, as Martin tried to recover from his mistake.
Dismissing Rishi's promises of successful flights, Martin suggested, "ensure [flights] are ATOL protected" in a cutting manner. As the panelists chuckled, he continued, "pay for it on a credit card so you have section 75 protection, and of course, pay it off 'IN FULL!'" The audience joined in, encouraged by Martin, causing confusion for Ian who asked, "Why are they doing that?" Paul replied, "I think he's trying to turn it into a catchphrase."
Returning to the topic of the Rwanda bill, Ian pointed out the irony of accepting asylum seekers from Rwanda due to safety concerns while also planning to deport asylum seekers to the same country. Paul added, "Perhaps the plane should be on a bungee rope."
The controversial scheme involves flying asylum seekers who have arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel to Rwanda, with the country's government being paid money for their accommodation. After hours of debate and political turmoil, the bill was passed by MPs, with Downing Street stating that any additional funds would cover costs associated with addressing concerns raised by the Supreme Court.
The episode of Have I Got News For You airs on BBC One and iPlayer on Friday at 9pm. If you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, you can get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us, calling 020 3615 2145, or submitting your story through our Submit Stuff page - we'd love to hear from you.
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