PM jetting off to California for first family holiday in four years
Rishi Sunak reveals he’s jetting off to California this afternoon for his first family holiday in four years – and he’ll be dragging his kids around the Star Wars exhibit at Disneyland – with Deputy PM Oliver Dowden to be left in charge
- PM reveals he, his wife Akshata Murty and their daughters are heading to the US
Rishi Sunak is jetting off on holiday to California this afternoon with his deputy Oliver Dowden being left in charge of the country in his absence.
The Prime Minister revealed he, his wife Akshata Murty, and their two daughters, Krishna, 12, and Anoushka, 10, are heading to the US.
It will be their first family holiday since Mr Sunak was appointed a Treasury minister more than four years ago, in July 2019.
The PM described California as ‘very special’ to himself and his wife as it is where they first met when they were both studying at Stanford University.
The couple own a penthouse flat in Santa Monica, which is estimated to be worth £5.5million.
Mr Sunak this morning spoke of his excitement at visiting Disneyland during his family’s upcoming trip.
But the PM – who has previously revealed he plays with lightsabers – admitted his daughters might not be too happy about having to visit the Star Wars area of the theme park with him.
Rishi Sunak is jetting off on holiday to California this afternoon with his deputy Oliver Dowden being left in charge of the country in his absence
Mr Sunak, his wife Akshata Murty, and their two daughters, Krishna and Anoushka (pictured before watching the Barbie film recently), will spend just over a week away from the UK
Mr Sunak this morning spoke of his excitement at visiting Disneyland during his family’s upcoming trip
The PM, pictured with a 3D-printed model of an All Terrain Armoured Transport Walker from Star Wars during a visit to Oxfordshire in March, has often spoken of his love of the film series
Mr Sunak is expected to be away from Downing Street for just over a week as he enjoys a summer holiday.
Speaking to LBC radio this morning, Mr Sunak said: ‘I’m actually going off on holiday this afternoon.
‘The country will be left in the capable hands of the Deputy Prime Minister [Mr Dowden]. So we’re having our first proper family summer holiday in a few years.
‘I’m very much looking forward to spending time with my kids.’
He added: ‘We’re going to California, which is where I met my wife so it’s very special to us.
‘The kids are very excited because I’m taking them to Disneyland.’
Asked which Disney characters are his daughters’ favourite, Mr Sunak replied: ‘Sadly they have grown out of all the princesses, which was a great phase.
‘But actually I’m very excited – there’s a new, or not that new anymore, Star Wars bit of Disneyland which I’m very excited about.
‘They rather fear we’re going to have to spend more time there than they would like.’
The PM, who is teetotal, revealed that enjoying time with his family was how he relaxed from the stresses strains of being in office.
‘Spending time with my girls, which I don’t do enough,’ he said. ‘So this will be really special for us.
‘We rarely get family time – it was nice we had a night out the other evening to go see Barbie which was fun.’
Asked what he made of the film, Mr Sunak replied: ‘What did I make of it? It was good escapism for me, it was very pink!’
Earlier this year, the PM joked in a TV interview about how he ‘gets permission’ to play with Star Wars lego and lightsabers as the father of two children.
It will be Mr Sunak’s first family holiday since he was appointed Chief Secretary to the Treasury in July 2019
Mr Dowden, the Deputy PM and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, will manage day-to-day Government business while Mr Sunak is away
Mr Sunak attempted to take a holiday last year soon after being defeated by Liz Truss in the summer’s Tory leadership contest.
But the now PM spent all of ‘about 15 hours’ on a Spanish island before returning to Britain following the death of the Queen last September, his press secretary said earlier this week.
‘The PM will be taking some time off with his family – the first time he will do this since he became Chief Secretary to the Treasury almost four years ago,’ Mr Sunak’s press secretary told reporters.
‘He’ll be off from Thursday for just over a week.’
No10 said Mr Dowden, the Deputy PM and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, would manage day-to-day Government business while Mr Sunak was away.
‘Olive will be at the helm for the time that the PM is on holiday,’ Mr Sunak’s press secretary added.
‘But the PM will be getting daily updates from his private office, particularly on anything that is urgent.’
Asked if Mr Sunak thought it was important to have a work-life balance after his four-year spell without a holiday, his press secretary replied: ‘The PM believes that a work-life balance is very important, particularly spending time with your family – especially if you have young kids.
‘Not that he is necessarily a good example of practising what you preach.’
The PM’s press secretary revealed Mr Sunak hadn’t stayed at his Santa Monica property since becoming a Treasury minister in July 2019.
Mr Sunak cut short a planned trip to California in December 2021 after coming under pressure to do more to help businesses hit by a surge in Covid infections.
‘He came back, as I’m sure you’ll recall, for urgent matters relating to Covid lockdowns,’ the PM’s press secretary said.
No10 dismissed suggestions Mr Sunak’s ‘testy’ appearance during a radio interview on Monday – in which he clashed with a BBC host over his use of RAF jets and private helicopters to fly around the country – was to do with his lack of a holiday since becoming PM.
‘I think that was probably because the interview started off with complaining they only had five minutes,’ Mr Sunak’s press secretary said.
‘I would point out the PM has done Good Morning Scotland twice since he became PM and he is the first PM to do so since David Cameron.’
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