Rishi Sunak swaps Christmas address for surprise phone calls

Prime minister facing industrial action records calls thanking public sector workers for sacrifices'

Rishi Sunak has chosen to record phone calls with public servants in which he thanks them for their selflessness" rather than broadcast a Christmas message to the nation.

The prime minister made apparently surprise calls to four workers and the crew of a naval ship to express his gratitude for their sacrifices" after an extraordinary year".