Led By Donkeys picture of former health secretary Matt Hancock

Rishi Sunak’s plan to crack down on antisocial behaviour is one of those moments when governments say, “Oh, we going to do something about those things you always say you don’t like…”

But in this case there is a footnote.

And it goes like this…

“We’re doing this because it makes a few good headlines and we haven’t got around to sorting out the things you really want sorting, like the struggling NHS, GP waiting times, the rubbish railways, schools falling apart, rampant inflation, and pot holes so deep you could lose a car down there. All the austerity we forced on you earlier made these problems worse, but we’re hoping you’ve forgotten about that.”

For his latest crusade, Sunak says he wants to tackle vandalism in public spaces. Or he wants us to think he’s doing that, which is almost the same.

Those who are caught in such acts will be “quickly and visibly punished”. That “visibly punished” refers to the wearing of shaming jumpsuits or high-vis jackets. Or maybe to the stocks and the chucking of rotten vegetables. Nothing would be a surprise.

On, and he also wants to tackle beggars causing a “nuisance” on Britain’s streets.

It’s possible he hasn’t thought through the optics on that one. Here is one of the richest men in Britain turning against people who have nothing. A modern spin on an old parable, you might say.

Yes, the sight of people begging on the streets can embarrass you into scurrying past while pretending not to look. That’s what I do sometimes, and it’s not a good trait, as public poverty should shame us all.

But it also raises another worry about crackdowns on antisocial behaviour. This isn’t just a party political point, as Keir Starmer got in first with Labour’s ideas on tackling antisocial behaviour – spurring Sunak to blurt out a few recycled ideas of his own.

The worry is this: what we are asked to regard as antisocial behaviour is confined to visible problems on the street, such as vandalism, graffiti, begging, and so forth.

Yet plenty of unseen aspects of life are antisocial. Rich people who dodge tax or employ accountants to bend the rules and avoid tax. That’s antisocial, as it denies society the means to operate.

MPs who have one well-paid job and can’t resist touting for another. That’s antisocial as they are deflected from doing their job.

We could look at any number of MPs here, but let’s consider former health secretary Matt Hancock. I know, sorry for bringing him up – and all this may want you to bring something up if you’ve just eaten.

Hancock has been claiming £13,000 a year in expenses to pay for a ‘love nest’ after he left the marital home. And after he earned £320,000 for appearing on I’m A Celebrity MP… Get Some Money In My Bank.

And that’s not even what I am talking about.

Hancock and Chancellor For A Day Kwasi Kwarteng were among MPs apparently caught out by the campaign group Led By Donkeys. In a clever stunt, the group set up a fake South Korean firm touting for business among MPs.

During an online meeting, Hancock was asked about his daily rate. A filmed clip released by the group shows him saying with shameless aplomb: “It’s 10,000 sterling.”

Ten grand a day for a side hustle. And isn’t that added “sterling” just so brattish.

Hancock’s spokesperson huffed about it having been a private conversation. Well, that’s the point.

If we are governed by politicians who have private conversations about earning ten grand a day for offering advice to foreign firms, something is wrong.

And it’s antisocial.

Also, with Sunak we have a prime minister so fantastically wealthy he has no need to use the education or health services most people rely on. Isn’t that antisocial?  Or anti the general run of society.

AS it happens, Rishi Sunak’s accountants finally released his tax statement, as long promised. The figures came out while his chaotic predecessor but one, Boris Johnson, was petulantly floundering before the privileges committee last week.

A sly move timed to go unnoticed.

Turns out Sunak made £5 million in the past three years, mostly through a US-based investments fund. As such investments are covered by capital gains tax, he paid around 22% in tax – much the same as a nurse, say.

In 2016, Sunak voted for a cut in capital gains tax – something which is estimated to have made him £300,000 in the past three years.

All of which sounds, well, antisocial.