Akshata Murty makes U.K. political stage debut for ‘best friend’ PM Sunak

Akshata Murty made a surprise debut at the Conservative Party Conference, introducing her "best friend" Rishi Sunak for his maiden speech as UK Prime Minister. Murty shared her pride in Sunak's achievements, citing his "honesty and integrity" as what attracted her to him. She also highlighted his "deep love" for the UK and his "sincere desire" to ensure everyone has opportunities. Sunak opened his speech by praising Murty as the "best long-term decision" he had made. He then discussed the government's successes and the need to make the right decisions for the long-term. He announced the cancellation of the HS2 project and the reinvestment of the funds in transport projects across the country. Sunak concluded by calling for a different way of leading and creating change.

Britain’s Indian First Lady, Akshata Murty, made a surprise debut on the political stage on October 4 when she stepped out to introduce “best friend” Rishi Sunak for his maiden speech as U.K. Prime Minister to the Conservative Party conference in Manchester.

Ms. Murty, during her light-hearted and personal speech, claimed her husband was unaware of her “gate-crashing” as the warm-up act to the centrepiece of the annual conference and that her decision had also surprised their daughters, Krishna and Anoushka.

The 43-year-old daughter of Infosys co-founder Narayan Murthy went on to share her pride in Mr. Sunak’s many achievements and how it was his “honesty and integrity” that had first attracted her to him when they met as students at Stanford University in their 20s.

“Rishi and I are each other’s best friends; we are one team and I could not imagine being anywhere else than here today to show my support to him and to the party,” said Ms. Murty.

“Rishi and I met when we were 24 when we were both studying abroad in America. Right from the very beginning, I was struck by two things about him...his deep love for his home, the United Kingdom, and his sincere desire to ensure as many people as possible have a chance to have the opportunities he was lucky enough to have had. It completely energised him. Being with Rishi was the easiest decision of my life,” she said.

According to Ms. Murty, the one word that encapsulates her husband is “aspiration”, which drives him to work for a better future for the U.K.

“Sometimes when the going gets tough, I remind Rishi that he's fighting for his values. That he's fighting for this party's values, knowing that it's a hard road ahead. That success is hard one,” she said.