'Southampton fan' Rishi Sunak makes embarrassing football gaffe during leadership speech

Conversative leadership hopeful Rishi Sunak has scored an own goal while discussing his support of Southampton.

Sunak was born in the south coast city and has previously described himself as a “massive football fan” and claimed Matt Le Tissier was his favourite player.

His father Yashvir had a season ticket to watch the Saints and Sunak said that, for his 18th birthday, he was given a card signed by the whole squad, which then became “one of his most prized possessions”.

Those credentials as a Southampton fan have come under the microscope during hustings in Manchester. Asked how he would get Saints back to winning ways following a dire run of form which stretches back to last season, he replied: "I'm going to be unpopular for saying it here, starting by beating [Manchester] United this weekend.”

Southampton are in fact preparing to play Leicester City at 3pm on Saturday, not United, although they will play Erik ten Hag’s side the following weekend on August 27. The gaffe is hardly likely to affect Sunak’s chances of becoming the next Prime Minister, but it will become the latest entry into the book of politicians stumbling over their supposed football fandom.

Back in April 2015, David Cameron famously forgot that he was a supporter of Aston Villa – not West Ham. While celebrating the multicultural and diverse nature of Britain he said: “We are a shining example of a country where multiple identities work. Where you can be Welsh and Hindu and British, Northern Irish and Jewish and British; where you can wear a kilt and a turban; where you can wear a hijab covered in poppies. Where you can support Man United, the Windies and Team GB at the same time. Of course, I’d rather you supported West Ham.”

Cameron later said