New Delhi: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has found himself embroiled in yet another controversy, this time over the type of pen he uses. It has been revealed that Sunak frequently employs pens with erasable ink, sparking fresh concerns about the secrecy and integrity of the documents he has signed during his tenure at 10 Downing Street.
According to a report by The Guardian, Sunak has been photographed using disposable “Pilot V” fountain pens, not only for making cabinet notes and working on government papers but also for signing official letters at international summits. These pens prominently display an “erasable ink” logo and are marketed as being “ideal for those learning to write with ink because if you make a mistake, the ink erases using standard ink eradicators.”
The use of such pens raises questions about the potential manipulation or erasure of Sunak’s hand-written notes and other documents. While the UK PM’s office claims that he has never utilized the erasing feature, critics argue that the mere presence of erasable ink poses a security risk.
In response to the controversy, Sunak’s press secretary stated, “This is a pen provided by and used widely by the civil service. The prime minister has never used the erase function and nor would he.” However, political opponents seized the opportunity to criticize Sunak and hold him accountable for his pen choice.
Tom Brake, a former Liberal Democrat MP, expressed concerns about the impact on public trust in politicians, stating, “When trust in politicians is at an all-time low, the PM signing official documents in erasable ink could push it through the floor and into the basement.” Brake further emphasized the need for government accountability and highlighted the issue of erasable ink, along with lost mobile phones and disappearing WhatsApp messages, as indicative of a cavalier attitude towards transparency.
Experts have also weighed in on the matter, suggesting that documents signed by Sunak using erasable ink could be easily manipulated by removing his handwritten notes, potentially raising doubts about the authenticity and reliability of official records.
