Sunak and Murty Promote Maths Charity on This Morning as Life After Politics Comes Into Focus

Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murty used a televised appearance on This Morning to promote The Richmond Project, their charity designed to make maths less intimidating for students. The couple joined hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary for a relaxed interview about their work and life after Sunak’s time in Downing Street.

"I'll start," Murty said when asked to tell viewers about the charity’s work, prompting Hammond to quip, "We know who's in charge!" The exchange set a light tone as the two discussed the project, named after their North Yorkshire hometown, and its aim to break down barriers to numeracy and build confidence in numbers. Murty described the charity’s mission as helping people feel capable with numbers, not just those who are naturally drawn to mathematics.

Murty spoke at length about life at home since Sunak stepped back from frontline politics. She said she has enjoyed him being around more, noting that there is "more sleep" and that their daughters are delighted to have him home. The dog, she added, is happier with longer family walks. Still, she described the change as "exhausting" at times because keeping up with all of his ideas and projects can be a lot to manage. She emphasized the positives, though, highlighting time together in Yorkshire and moments to reflect as a family.

Sunak acknowledged the shift, saying he channeled his post-politics energy into home life, though not every attempt to organize the household was a perfect fit. He joked that there are only so many times you can reorganize cupboards or work through a skincare routine with the children before it becomes repetitive. He also reflected on the contrast with No. 10, admitting he misses the short commute that allowed him to walk to his office, but he valued the chance to take the kids to school and enjoy family time, even if the children were not keen on being dropped off at school by him.

The couple then described the charity’s practical work and philosophy on numeracy. Murty emphasized that The Richmond Project aims to "break down barriers to numeracy" and to help people build confidence in numbers, regardless of their prior experience with mathematics. Sunak, who has spoken publicly about his own struggles with mental arithmetic, noted that public perceptions of him as a numbers expert did not always align with his personal experience. He said that even in public life, he sometimes faced anxiety around math, underscoring the project’s message that numeracy is a skill many can improve with the right support.

In a segment that blended promotion with a candid look at life outside politics, the pair participated in a game of Mr and Mrs. Hammond and O’Leary read statements the couple then had to match with Sunak and Murty offering their answers. They revealed that Sunak was the first to tell Murty he loved her and that their favorite takeaway is a Nando’s, a detail that added a touch of fan-friendly warmth to the interview. The Richmond Project had been publicly announced in March, and the This Morning appearance marked a new public-facing moment for the initiative as the couple described its aims and foundation to a broad audience.