To be fair, the spelling is stupid and doesn't follow general phonetic rules. A lot of English is like that. Likes to throw a random curveball. Like "i before e except after c. And some other random times for no particular reason."
I remember a teacher laughing at me when I was about 9, for calling Leicester "Lee Sess Ter"
Then again, I was 9, and also not an MP, so maybe you have a point.