The UK’s new Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, and his family plan to live in the apartment above 10 Downing Street, despite owning a number of luxury properties, including one in London.
Rishi Sunak’s property portfolio reportedly includes a California apartment, a house in London’s exclusive Kensington and a townhouse in his Yorkshire constituency in northern England.
But the Prime Minister’s press secretary has confirmed that he will move to Downing Street.
“They are moving into apartment number 10,” the spokeswoman said, adding that she did not know if they had any plans to redecorate.
Former leader Boris Johnson has sparked controversy over an expensive renovation of his prime minister’s apartment, which has reportedly cost more than €230,000 (£200,000).
The ousted Prime Minister’s lavish renovation of his adjacent apartment at 11 Downing Street was overseen by his wife Carrie. The controversy over how it was funded has sparked widespread debate among Johnson’s critics.
The details of expensive wallpaper rolls, trendy furniture and wealthy donors became the subject of endless newspaper articles that eventually undermined authority.
Although apartment number 10 on Downing Street is in a prime location, it is relatively small.
Sunak’s Labrador is also coming
British leaders traditionally live in the apartment above 10 Downing Street. The main building above is the official residence and office of the country’s prime ministers.
Chancellors usually lived in the larger apartment above number 11. But when Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were Prime Minister and Chancellor, they switched apartments to accommodate Blair’s growing family.
In fact, Sunak only recently moved out of apartment number 10, where he lived during his time as Johnson’s Treasury Secretary, until he stepped down in July.
When asked why she chose to live in number 10 and not the larger apartment, number 11, the spokeswoman said: “They were very happy there.”
Before marrying the daughter of an Indian billionaire in 2009, Sunak worked at asset manager Goldman Sachs and two hedge funds.
His wife Akshata Murty has a significant stake in her father’s software company Infosys.
Together, the couple are on The Sunday Times Rich List, with a net worth of €842 million (£730 million).
Source: DN
