Rishi Sunak revealed that as a child, he went without “lots of things,” including Sky TV. In an interview with ITV News, the Prime Minister, who attended the fee-paying Winchester College, emphasized his parents’ commitment to prioritizing education over other luxuries.
Sunak and his wife, Akshata Murty, have an estimated fortune of £651 million. Labour has often highlighted Sunak’s wealth, suggesting it makes him out of touch during a cost-of-living crisis.
When asked if he had ever gone without something, Sunak shared that his family emigrated to the UK with very little, instilling in him the values of hard work.
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His father worked as a GP, and his mother ran a pharmacy. Pressed for specifics, Sunak mentioned that they never had Sky TV, among other sacrifices common to many families.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer chose not to comment directly on Sunak’s remarks but noted his own family’s struggles, like having to cut off their phone due to unpaid bills, emphasizing these as typical working-class experiences. Similarly, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, speaking in Warwickshire, recalled not having Sky TV and shared a memory of his mother saving money by walking to a cheaper grocery store.
Sky Television, launched in 1989 when Sunak was eight, rapidly grew, reaching one million UK households within a year and six million by the late 1990s. Initially, Sky’s channels were free for those with the necessary equipment, with subscription packages introduced later.
Before entering politics, Sunak was a hedge fund manager and became the first front-line politician to feature in the Sunday Times’ rich list. The majority of his family’s wealth comes from Murty’s share in Infosys, the IT giant co-founded by her father. In 2022, it was revealed that Murty had non-dom status, allowing her to avoid UK tax on overseas earnings, a status she later renounced.
The ITV interview, recorded on 6 June after Sunak attended D-Day commemorations in France, is set to be broadcast in full later. Sunak faced criticism for leaving the event early, missing an international commemoration attended by other world leaders, including US President Joe Biden. Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron stood in for him. Following backlash, Sunak apologized, admitting it was a mistake to leave early, explaining his schedule had been set weeks in advance. In a clip released by ITV, Sunak is seen apologizing for being late to the interview, mentioning the Normandy event had overrun due to his interactions with many veterans.
This interview comes shortly after Sunak launched the Conservative Party manifesto, promising further tax cuts and warning against giving Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer unchecked power without clear plans. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps echoed this sentiment, stating that the Tories are fighting for every seat to prevent Labour from securing a supermajority akin to the 1997 landslide under Tony Blair, which he argued would be detrimental to the country.
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