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Christmas comes early to Downing Street! Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murty shop for decorations at a festive market in support of small businesses

  • Prime minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty perused the market 
  • Billionaire’s daughter Akshata looke particularly impressed by some baubles
  • Elsewhere chancellor Jeremy Hunt turned his hand to glass blowing  

Christmas has come early to Downing Street as the prime minister’s residence has hosted a Christmas market outside for ministers and officials to enjoy.

Prime minister Rishi Sunak, his wife Akshata Murty and chancellor Jeremy Hunt were all pictured perusing the stalls outside Number 10 this evening despite chilly temperatures.

The couple, who currently live in the flat above 10 Downing Street, examined Christmas baubles on offer, visited the cheese stall and took selfies with market traders as they celebrated Small Business Saturday vendors.

The initiative is a grassroots campaign which aims to highlight the successes of small businesses and encourages people to ‘shop local’ to support the small businesses operating in their communities.

Officially, the day of celebration is on the first Saturday in December, but Downing Street got an early glimpse of what is on offer from small businesses as you sort out your Christmas shopping this year.

As the prime minister perused the stalls, he was photographed holding intricately designed Christmas baubles on ribbons as his wife Akshata looked particularly impressed by a blue and white decoration – which may well appear on the 10 Downing Street Christmas tree this year.

Akshata looked particularly impressed by a painted blue and white Christmas bauble hanging on a ribbon

Akshata looked particularly impressed by a painted blue and white Christmas bauble hanging on a ribbon

Rishi Sunak chatted to a vendor who appeared to be selling Scotch eggs and chutneys as Akshata carried a gift she had picked up

Rishi Sunak chatted to a vendor who appeared to be selling Scotch eggs and chutneys as Akshata carried a gift she had picked up

The prime minister and Akshata posed for a selfie with two of the staff members at one of the stalls in the market

The prime minister and Akshata posed for a selfie with two of the staff members at one of the stalls in the market

The market was lit up by a string of little lights while the Downing Street Christmas tree was visible behind a stall in the background

The market was lit up by a string of little lights while the Downing Street Christmas tree was visible behind a stall in the background

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt appeared to be wearing protective gloves as he geared up to try his hand at glass blowing

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt appeared to be wearing protective gloves as he geared up to try his hand at glass blowing

The Chancellor also put on protective glasses as he melted glass in a furnace before shaping it

The Chancellor also put on protective glasses as he melted glass in a furnace before shaping it 

Elsewhere the chancellor looked overhwelmed with choice at the cheese stall within the market

Elsewhere the chancellor looked overhwelmed with choice at the cheese stall within the market

Earlier this week, Akshata met with the Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska at Number 10, where they decorated the tree together before discussing the Russian invasion of her country.

The pair used decorations in the colours of the Ukrainian flag to embellish the tree. 

As the chancellor Jeremy Hunt took some time out from managing the country’s finances, he turned his hand to glassblowing as he visited a stall at the market.

Hunt was seen wearing protective glasses as he tried to fashion something out of glass after heating it up in the furnace.

He also wore what appeared to be protective fingerless gloves on his arms as he got ready to try out his new hobby. 

Elsewhere the chancellor looked overwhelmed with choice as he surveyed dozens of wheels of cheese at another stall in the market. 

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