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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Mikey Smith

Rishi Sunak’s wife oversees removal men moving family back into Downing Street

Moving vans have been spotted on Downing Street to move new PM Rishi Sunak and his family back into the flat above Number 10.

Mr Sunak's wife Akshata Murty was spotted overseeing the moving effort, undertaken by professional firm Bishop's Move.

Among the items apparently moved into No10 included an upright piano, a double mattress and a gas barbecue.

Mr Sunak's wife Akshata Murty was seen overseeing the move (Steve Back)

Prime Ministers usually live in the apartment above Number 11 Downing Street - which is slightly larger.

But Mr Sunak's family have decided to move back into the Chancellor's flat above Number 10 - where they lived until the Mirror revealed they'd moved out in April.

Mr Sunak's press secretary said this week the decision was made to move back into No10 was because the family were "very happy there", and not to swerve the lavish and loud redecoration of the No11 flat infamously ordered by Boris and Carrie Johnson.

Movers from Bishop's Move were spotted on Downing Street (PA)

Mr Sunak and Akshata Murty were included on the Sunday Times Rich List of the UK's wealthiest people earlier this year - estimated to have a combined net worth of £730million.

They own four luxury homes worth around £15million, including a £6.6 million mansion in North Yorkshire which boasts five bedrooms, four bathrooms and two reception rooms spread over four storeys.

They also have a Grade II-listed Georgian manor house in the village of Kirby Sigston, located in his Richmond constituency, which the family use as a weekend retreat.

Tory Chairman Nadhim Zahawi was spotted walking by in a tracksuit (PA)

The Sunaks purchased the house for £1.5million in 2015 and have been transforming the property, with a £400,000 swimming pool, hot tub, yoga studio, gym and tennis court.

The Mirror revealed in April that the cost of heating the pool could run to as much as £13,000 a year.

Prime Ministers have a £30,000 annual budget to refurbish their Downing Street residence, but Mr Johnson came under the microscope after it emerged he had spent far more that.

Movers took a mattress, upright piano and barbecue into No10 (PA)

The Treasury revealed in April 2021 that Mr Sunak too had decorated his Downing Street flat, but said he had done so entirely at his own expense.

As movers carried furniture and mattresses through the famous black door, Tory party chairman Nadhim Zahawi was spotted walking down the street wearing a matching navy blue hoodie and tracksuit bottoms, a baseball cap and white trainers.

Mr Zahawi's cap was made by hip Nova Scotia-based hat designers 1879 Aparrel.

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