Which 'first lady in waiting' will set up home in Downing Street? (2024)

When prime minister Rishi Sunak walked back into 10 Downing Streetlast night after announcing a general election on July 4, it's likely that the woman who has been by his side since the day he moved in was waiting in the lobby, carrying a towel for the sodden politician.

Meanwhile, when leader of the opposition Keir Starmer walked back into his family home, he too would have been greeted by his wife of around 20 years - although she probably had no need to dry off her husband, who addressed the nation from indoors.

As the two politicians battle it out for the keys to Number 10, either Akshata Murty orVictoria (Vic) Starmer will become the nation's 'first lady'. And, while they are both married to politicians and have two children, that's perhaps where the similarities end for the two women.

Akshata and Vic hail from vastly different backgrounds, with the former being a billionaire and the latter coming from much more humble beginnings in North London.

And their attitudes to life in the public eye also appear different, with Vic seen much less often making public appearances - of course, this will be in part influenced by the fact that Akshata is currently in Number 10.

Here, FEMAIL takes a closer look into the lives of the two women behind the men competing to win the votes of the nation...

BACKGROUNDS

Billionaire's daughter

When Rishi Sunak and his wife moved into Downing Street in 2022, they became the richest couple ever to have occupied its halls - but much of that wealth came from Akshata.

The 44-year-old is a billionaire heiress and is said to be wealthier than King Charles due to her £430 million stake in her father's IT empire.

Akshata is the daughter ofN. R. Narayana Murthy, a founder of the Indian multinational IT company Infosys.

Meanwhile her mother, Sudha, is an educator and philanthropist who was once a chair on the board of Infosys.

Akshata and her brother Rohan grew up in Jayanagar, a suburb of Bangalore. She studied in India until university, when she moved to the US and attended Claremont McKenna College in California, before moving on to the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and later, Stanford University.

Despite being a daughter of a billionaire, Akshata recently revealed she likes the 'simple' 'everyday things' in life.

Speaking to the Times, she revealed she 'rarely' gets recognised and often walks the family Labrador in St. James' Park.

'I go to Tesco or the little Sainsbury's or I go to the M&S in Victoria,' she said.

Daughter of a GP

In comparison to Akshata, whose education and career has spanned continents, Vic Starmer grew up in Gospel Oak, North London - and lives not far from her childhood home even today.

Her father, who now lives on the same street in Kentish Town as Victoria and her family, is of Polish-Jewish descent, and as such Victoria was brought up in the Jewish faith.

Her mother Barbara was a local doctor in North London, who was known among the community. She also converted to Judaism upon marrying Victoria's father.

Sadly, Victoria's mother died following an accident in 2020, just as her son-in-law Sir Keir Starmer launched his Labour Party leadership bid.

The leader of the opposition's biography, by Tom Baldwin, revealed she had fallen down the stairs at the hairdresser in what was a very unexpected accident.

She was taken to hospital where she remained conscious for a time, but sadly passed away two weeks later.

The Labour leader revealed in the book that he had offered to suspend his campaign entirely after the accident, but both Vic and her mother wouldn't hear of it.

CAREERS

Fashion designer

After moving to the US to complete her studies, Akshata received a diploma from theFashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in LA.

In her earliest years with Rishi, she pursued a career in fashion and set up her own business in 2007, Akshata Designs.

The label intended to celebrate Indian culture, discovering artists in remote villages and working with them and their designs to create her own.

'I’m about the story behind a particular garment, it’s authenticity, craftsmanship and protecting a rich heritage,' she told Vogue. 'I care about doing something in India, for India because it’s part of our family’s DNA.'

However, her business venture fell flat and collapsed after just three years.

Despite this, Akshata has not shied away from business ventures and has held stakes in business over the yearsincluding the family empire, Infosys and a project she and Rishi set up together, Catamaran Ventures UK.

She has also been linked to Jamie Oliver's Pizzeria and Etonian tailor, New & Lingwood.

As of 2022, Akshata was listed as a director of the UK arm of software company Soroco, which was co-founded by her brother Rohan.

Solicitor-turned-NHS worker

Meanwhile Victoria Starmer has also occupied a few the different roles in the course of her career - however they look a little different to Akshata Murty's millions.

Vic began her career as a solicitor, and met her husband during her time in law.

Alongside her legal role, Vic also took on a position mentoring deprived children, according to the Guardian.

In 2015, it was reported she had taken on a role of governor at her children's school in Kentish Town.

However, in recent years Vic has moved away from law and is no longer listed in the Solicitors Regulation Authority as a practicing solicitor.

Instead, she now works in occupational health in the NHS.

Sir Keir has previously revealed his wife is a sounding board for his health and public services policies.

He told the Mirror: 'She loves working for the NHS. She loves the team that she's working with.'

He added: 'I get a direct line of sight on a daily basis into the challenges of the NHS and the morale of the staff.'

ATTITUDES

Photo-op friendly

Akshata Murty has never shied away from a photo-op - although, seeing as she's the incumbent 'first lady', it certainly comes with the territory.

Shortly after she moved into 10 Downing Street, Akshata started a public Instagram profile, on which she shared more information about public appearances and visits she carried out in her capacity as first lady.

They include receiving other world leaders and their partners in official state visits, playing with children at schools - and she even shared a selfie from the King's Coronation concert.

She has also shared glimpses into family life with Rishi, their two daughtersKrishna and Anoushka, and the family dog Nova.

A notable guest hosted by Akshata during her time in Downing Street was Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska.

The pair cut powerful figures as they stood outside the door to the Prime Minister's residence - with Akshata dressed in blue, one of the colours on the Ukrainian flag.

They waved to the world's press outside the home while holding hands, in a show of unity while Ukraine remains under siege from Putin's forces since the 2022 invasion.

'Reluctant political spouse'

The role of partner to leader of the opposition no doubt allows one to maintain more privacy in their life - but for Vic Starmer, this appears to be of paramount importance.

She has previously been described as a 'reluctant political spouse' who largely shies away from the limelight - however, she is always by her husband's side during the important moments, and likely will remain so during the General Election campaign.

Keir previously told the Mirror of his wife: 'She's a streetwise grounded, brilliant, gorgeous woman who wants as far as she can to get on with her own life and to protect it.'

He added that his wife had 'never asked' for the role she now finds herself in.

A party insider previously told the Telegraph that Vic will not be a first lady akin to a Cherie Blair-type figure if her husband becomes the next prime minister.

The source, who instead likened Vic to Sarah Brown, said: 'She’s quite sassy in that she’s quite unbothered by what he’s doing.'

They added: 'They have a great dynamic – she spends quite a lot of time taking the mickey out of him because he can be so serious. I’ve never known her to be particularly political – she’s always had her own interests.'

STYLE

Lover of labels

Akshata Murty's introduction into public life brought plenty of scrutiny in many areas of her background - notably, her exceptional wealth and tax affairs due to her 'non dom' status.

However what she may not have expected was a backlash over her outfits.

Akshata's earliest appearances in the public eye saw her opting for very expensive pieces, including a £1,000 leather skirt and a pair of slippers costing £570.

Her fashion choices sparked criticism from some who thought her style was 'out of touch' with the average woman in Britain.

Since then, Akshata has altered her choices - opting for more upmarket high street brands.

Celebrity stylist Rochelle White told FEMAIL Akshata's image is 'fashion focused and forward'.

She said: 'She tends to wear colours and styles that are bold and make a statement, which I think represents her.

'As she has worked in fashion and I feel that is a big part of her and her personality she will naturally have an eye for colour palettes, styles and trend pieces that she can wear.

'I think she is also aware that eyes are on her and makes conscious decisions about what she is wearing and even in some cases who.'

Loyal to Labour?

Rochelle described Victoria Starmer's fashion choices as 'relatable' for many women around the UK.

'She wears a mix of highstreet and higher end high street brands (like most people),' the stylist revealed.

Additionally, Vic is often spotted wearing scarlet hues, particularly at political events such as the Labour Party Conference in 2023.

'I feel that is her way of making a statement and supporting Labour without having to voice it. So, again using her outfits do the talking,' Rochelle said.

'I would also say she much more relatable in regards to her style choices and pieces she chooses. She knows that eyes are on her and is putting her best foot forward.'

As she attended the party conference last year, Vic opted for a Dada dress from elegant brand Edeline Lee. The style retails at £1,200, marking one of the more expensive items in her wardrobe.

The frock featured a frilled hem, a belt at the waist - and, of course, it was red.

HOW THEY MET

University sweethearts

For Akshata and Rishi, their love story began in 2005 when they were both studying at the US's prestigious Stanford University.

Akshata had begun an MBA, while Rishi had won a prestigious Fulbright scholarship to study there.

Rishi recently admitted there was 'clearly something' there when he and Akshata first met – and added he is an enormous fan of rom-coms, prompting him to change some of his classes so that he could sit next to his wife.

Four years later, in 2009, they married in a lavish ceremony in Bengaluru in India, which was the couple's home for the next four years.

Since then, they have gone on to have daughters , Krishna,now around 13 years old, and Anoushka, who is around 10.

Workplace nemeses

Victoria Starmer's first meeting with her now-husband Keir doesn't quite match the fairytale of Rishi and Akshata's young love.

In fact, the Labour leader often jokes that the pair didn't get off on the right foot - to the point where Vic swore about him during their first interaction.

At the time, Vic was working as a solicitor and Keir was a QC. Having never spoken with her before, Keir called her at work one day to ask questions about the documents he had been given.

Recalling the call on Piers Morgan's Life Stories in 2021, Keir said: 'I was doing a case in court and it all depended on whether the documents were accurate.

'I [asked my colleagues] who actually drew up these documents, they said a woman called Victoria, so I said let’s get her on the line.'

As he continued to question her over technical details in the documents and their accuracy, he sensed her becoming more and more agitated - to the point where he heard her mutter: 'Who the f*** does he think he is?'

However, the human rights barrister eventually managed to win over the solicitor, and the pair had their first date in the Lord Stanley pub in Camden.

The couple married a few years later in 2007, on the Fennes Estate in Essex. They share two children; 15-year-old Toby and a 12-year-old daughter whose name has never been made public.