Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt's children have 'regular playdates' since moving to Downing Street

Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt‘s children are reported to have become friendly neighbours since their fathers stepped into their roles as Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer.

While the occupants above 10 and 11 Downing Street were at each other’s throats during the Blair and Brown years, these days things are more harmonious — at least among the youngsters.

‘The children have already started regular playdates with Rishi [Sunak]’s children, as they’re just next door,’ reveals Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, whose family moved in above No 11 last month.

Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt’s children are reported to have become friendly neighbours since their fathers stepped into their roles as Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer

‘One of his daughters goes to boarding school, but there are [still] four children and they hare round when everyone else has gone home, playing hide and seek.

‘They’re all of a similar age — Rishi’s daughters are nine and 11 and mine are eight and ten, and I have a son who is 12. 

‘It’s a great play area for them — it looks quite small on the outside, but it’s like the Tardis, there’s a lot of room inside.’

He adds: ‘It’s nice that there’s a family atmosphere in what can otherwise be a fairly formal place.’

In a speech today vowing to protect the NHS, Mr Sunak spoke at length about family, calling it ‘something that politicians struggle to talk about’.

‘We live in a world today where family can and does take many forms. But whatever your family looks like, it doesn’t matter. As long as the common bond is love. We shouldn’t be shy about it.

‘We need to support parents to manage the demands of modern workplaces without weakening the irreplaceable bonds of family life. And we’re going to roll out family hubs to offer parents the support they need.’

Mr Sunak conceded that his vision for the country will not happen ‘overnight’.

‘As well as peace of mind today, this afternoon I’ve also set out a vision for a better future for our children and grandchildren. Now we’re not going to get there overnight, or even in this Parliament. But this is the journey we are on,’ he said.

‘And despite all the challenges we face, all the anxieties that people feel, I know we can get there. Others may talk about change, I will deliver it. I won’t offer you false hope or quick fixes, but meaningful lasting change.

‘I want people to feel something that they do not always feel today – a belief that public services work for them, and knowledge that if you work hard in the good times, the state will be there for you during the bad.’