Prime minister’s wife Akshata Murty, was joined by chancellor’s wife Lucia Hunt, and home secretary’s wife Susie Cleverly, for a day of canvassing in Fordham
By Shajil KumarJun 20, 2024
RISHI Sunak, Jeremy Hunt, and James Cleverly’s wives hit the election campaign trail in Suffolk on Wednesday to help bolster the Conservative party's sagging fortunes.
Almost all pollsters have been forecasting a rout for the Conservative party in the July 4 general election.
Prime minister's wife Akshata Murty, was joined by chancellor's wife Lucia Hunt, and home secretary's wife Susie Cleverly, for a day of canvassing in Fordham, according to media reports.
Culture Secretary and local Tory candidate Lucy Frazer also joined them for a door-to-door campaign. They spoke to residents and handed over Tory party leaflets.
The group was dressed casually and was spotted taking selfies with residents and Conservative volunteers.
While Akshata has been active during the Tory campaign and was present when her husband launched the party manifesto on June 11, Lucia and Susie are rarely seen during official engagements.
Akshata is the daughter of N R Narayana Murthy, the co-founder of Indian software giant Infosys.
In sharp contrast, Victoria Starmer, wife of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, has so far stayed away from publicly campaigning for Labour.
Starmer told LBC that Victoria was focusing on her job in the NHS and help their son study for his GCSE exams.
The Labour leader said his son had completed his last exam last Friday.
With the polling day barely two weeks away, political parties are pulling out all stops to woo voters.
Diwali celebration tomorrow kicks off business with ticketed workshops and networking.
Model taps into growing demand for inclusive, heritage-focused experiences.
Platform targets not just south Asians seeking cultural connection, but everyone.
Creating cultural belonging
Priyanka Patel, curator of The Empowered Desi, a new events platform for south Asians seeking cultural connection, is here with a Diwali celebration on Saturday (18) at Fargo Village in Coventry. The venture was born from personal experience – Patel felt "isolated and neglected" growing up without many south Asian friends. Spotting a gap in the market, she's now building a business around creating inclusive spaces for south Asians regardless of religious or regional background.
Diwali-themed , Paint N Sip event in Coventry marks the venture's next partnership with local business Sugar and Spice, Patel is offering a ticketed experience featuring diya decorating workshops, Indian grazing boards with chai, and jewellery stations where guests can take home jhumkas and bangles. The Diwali format combines cultural celebration with networking opportunities, with south Asian attire preferred.
Empowerment through experience
I couldn't talk about the festivals we celebrate, the type of Indian food we have, and also the clothes we wear for special occasions," Patel told BBC."I felt that I couldn't express my individuality, which in turn affected my confidence and self-worth." She realised that lack of cultural belonging represented an untapped market.
The business model centres on experiential events that blend tradition with social connection. The first workshop held on September (20) focused on bento cake decorating, a trendy format paired with south Asian networking. Patel aims for attendees to "feel empowered and inspired."
With South Asian Heritage Month highlighting the importance of cultural spaces, The Empowered Desi positions itself at the intersection of community building and commercial viability. Patel's betting that others share her experience and are willing to pay for a sense of belonging.
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