Sir Keir Starmer tours an Iceland supermarket in Warrington
(Image: PA Archive/PA Images)

Kemi Badenoch says sandwiches are 'not real food' and that 'lunch is for wimps' as Sir Keir Starmer hits back

by · Manchester Evening News

Sir Keir Starmer is 'quite happy' having sandwiches for lunch, Downing Street has said, after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch dismissed them as 'not real food'. Number 10 insists they are a 'great British institution' which brings in £8 billion a year to the UK economy.

The Prime Minister is said to have been 'surprised' to learn that his opposite number sometimes opts for a steak lunch, after Ms Badenoch discussed her dietary preferences in a newspaper interview.

Speaking to the Spectator magazine, the Conservative Party leader said sandwiches are 'what you have for breakfast' and expressed her aversion to moist bread.

READ MORE: Major landmark for 'Martyn's Law' as it clears House of Commons

In her interview published on Thursday, Ms Badenoch said: "What’s a lunch break? Lunch is for wimps. I have food brought in and I work and eat at the same time. There’s no time... Sometimes I will get a steak... I’m not a sandwich person. I don’t think sandwiches are a real food, it’s what you have for breakfast. I will not touch bread if it’s moist"

Asked whether the Prime Minister agreed with her stance, his spokesman said the Labour leader is 'quite happy with a sandwich lunch' and enjoyed a 'tuna sandwich and occasionally a cheese toastie.' "I think he was surprised to hear that the leader of the Opposition has a steak brought in for lunch," the spokesman said.

Mr Starmer's spokesman said he was 'surprised' at Ms Badenoch's comments
(Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

Former Conservative prime minister Rishi Sunak once expressed his fondness for a classic lunch item, remarking to journalists during the 2024 election trail that he's quite the 'big sandwich person' and particularly enjoys a 'club sandwich.'

Ms Badenoch swiftly attacked the Prime Minister’s response to her remarks in a post on social media, writing: “The PM has time to respond to my jokes about lunch… but no time for the farmers who produce our food. He refused to answer questions because he doesn’t care. It’s an ideological attack on farmers and will destroy lives. The Conservatives will reverse his cruel family farm tax.”