Here come the Tory WAGs! Wives of Rishi Sunak, Jeremy Hunt and James Cleverly hit the election campaign trail together as senior Conservatives deploy their 'secret weapons'
The wives of Rishi Sunak, Jeremy Hunt and James Cleverly hit the general election campaign trail today as they teamed up to push the Tory cause in Cambridgeshire.
Akshata Murty, the Prime Minister's wife, met up with Lucia Hunt, the Chancellor's wife, and Susie Cleverly, the wife of the Home Secretary, in the village of Fordham.
The trio were also joined by Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer, the local Tory candidate, as they delivered campaign leaflets and spoke to residents.
Ms Murty - dubbed Britain's 'first lady' - has become known as the PM's 'secret weapon' as he bids to remain in power beyond 4 July.
The heiress of an Indian billionaire has often been spotted on the campaign trail since Mr Sunak called the general election last month.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer yesterday explained the absence of his own wife, Victoria Starmer, from the election campaign so far.
He said she had been busy with her work in occupational health in the NHS, as well as helping their son through his GCSEs.
Akshata Murty (second from left) met up with Lucia Hunt (left) and Susie Cleverly (far right) in the village of Fordham, Suffolk
The wives of the PM, Chancellor and Home Secretary took a selfie with a local resident in the village
Ms Murty met with a Conservative Party member while out campaigning
Ms Murty was pictured giving a hug to Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer, the local Tory candidate, as they delivered campaign leaflets
Mr Murty, the heiress of an Indian billionaire, has often been spotted on the campaign trail since Mr Sunak called the general election last month
Ms Murty - dubbed Britain's 'first lady' - has become known as the PM's 'secret weapon' as he bids to remain in power beyond 4 July
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer yesterday explained the absence of his own wife, Victoria Starmer, from the election campaign so far
In an interview with LBC radio, Sir Keir also revealed his wife cheered him up after a frustrating experience with the first TV election debate opposite Mr Sunak.
The Labour leader said of Victoria: 'She is very plain speaking and very down to earth. She is very supportive.'
Asked if she ever gave him advice, Sir Keir said: 'After the first debate I was slightly frustrated because I didn't think the 45 seconds to answer a question really worked for me. I know why the programme set it up in that way.
'So I was pretty sort of – 'argh!' – frustrated. I am not good company when I am in that place. But Vic cheered me up on that one.'
Asked why she was not more often in the public eye, the Labour leader said: 'Vic does quite a bit with me, but during this campaign two things: One, she is working at the NHS in a hospital.
'Two, and I don't make a lot of this, is our boy has been doing his GCSEs and therefore we took the decision that whilst I was out and about on the road, we wanted to create the environment where he could study calmly in ordinary circumstances.'
Sir Keir said his son had finished his exams on Friday.
The Labour leader, who is very private about his family life, would not be drawn on whether he would move his children into Downing Street if he wins the election.
Ms Murty joined Mr Sunak at Silverstone last week as the PM launched the Tory manifesto at the famous racetrack in Northamptonshire.
She has also been at his side during other events in recent weeks, as well as appearing on her own on the campaign trail.
