Akshata: My mission to open up Number 10
RISHI Sunak’s wife says that curious children have asked her if she has “a chandelier” or even some “gold taps” in No10.
Insisting Downing Street should not be a “gilded cage”, Akshata Murty added that cheeky youngsters have also suggested she lies “in bed all day eating chocolates”.
The mother-of-two, 44, who is known as “Mrs M” by Downing Street staff, has invited more than 1,000 schoolchildren through the famous black door at the Prime Minister’s official residence since moving in almost two years ago. In her first solo interview, she revealed she has hosted “Lessons at 10” every Friday, which includes learning about cooking, business, chemistry, beauty and coding.
Ms Murty, right, said: “I thought Downing Street is special but it shouldn’t be a gilded cage. It shouldn’t be exclusive. It belongs to the country. Why not open the doors to young people? The
children ask me ‘do you have a chandelier, do you have gold taps? Do you lie in bed all day eating chocolates?’ “Children say ‘Miss, could I one day live here?’ and I tell them, ‘You bet you can. I’m proof’.”
Ms Murty is the daughter of tech billionaire Narayana Murthy, who has a fortune of more than £500million, and Sudha Murty.
Akshata, who uses her mother’s spelling of the surname, was born in southern India to a family who then had little money.
But she said: “I have an entrepreneurial mindset and come from an entrepreneurial family, so Lessons at 10 has been a journey.”
She also insisted that she is now an adopted Yorkshirewoman – the Prime Minister’s constituency is Richmond, in North Yorkshire – after putting down roots.
She said: “I absolutely feel British. One hundred per cent. If you wake my children up in the night and ask them where they are from, they will tell you ‘Yorkshire’.
“Having lived and grown up in India, I am in awe of Britain. I have been made to feel so welcome. If I go up to Yorkshire I would like to say I am an adopted Yorkshirewoman.”
Ms Murty also revealed: “We have a nanny but we do most things ourselves.”
Considered to be Mr Sunak’s secret weapon, the ex-fashion designer and venture capitalist is more low key than PM’S wives Cherie Blair, Carrie Johnson or Samantha Cameron.
And she said: “Few people recognise me. I shop at M&S in Victoria.”