A childcare firm part-owned by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s mega-rich wife got up to £10,000 of taxpayer cash to furlough staff amid the Covid pandemic.
Nanny and childminder agency Koru Kids, whose shareholders include Akshata Murty, got the handout in December 2020.
Her stake in Koru became public this week when it emerged the firm will benefit from a newly-unveiled golden hellos policy for nannies.
The Government will pilot incentive payments of £600 for childminders joining the profession and £1,200 if they join through an agency.
The move means agencies such as Koru Kids can expect a significant increase in business as a result.
The PM was criticised for failing to disclose his wife’s connection when questioned by MPs and the Liberal Democrats said the move “raises serious questions” for the Tory leader.
Mrs Murty is the daughter of billionaire businessman NR Narayana Murthy, who founded the software firm Infosys.
He was dragged into the spotlight last year after furlough cash was claimed for hundreds of his UK workforce.
And the PM’s wife, 41, was embroiled in a row after it emerged she had non-dom status, meaning she did not have to pay tax on overseas income.
She relinquished it and now pays UK tax on all income.
The Government said: “Furlough provided a lifeline to more than a million businesses and protected nearly 12 million jobs – with businesses passing all the money from the scheme on to employees.
“We acted decisively and swiftly in this unprecedented economic shock to support eligible businesses and protect the labour market.”
Koru Kids was approached for comment.
