Rishi Sunak listens to the Canadian singer Michael Bublé as he works late on his prime ministerial in-tray, he has revealed.
The Tory leader has also been helping organise Downing Street’s staff carol concert and handing out “peppermint bark” chocolates from America.
The insight into how Mr Sunak is preparing for Christmas after a year of extreme political turmoil in No 10 emerged via an interview with The Spectator magazine.
In the conversation, Mr Sunak opened up about his Hindu faith, describing how he prays with his children each night before bed.
The Prime Minister also expressed interest in letting pharmacies prescribe more medicines and vowed to toughen up a new anti-strikes law expected in the New Year if unions behave unreasonably.
But it is the insights into the still relatively new Prime Minister’s festive habits that may catch the eye most as the country approaches the Christmas period.
Mr Sunak named Bublé as his go-to Christmas musician – a habit likely shared with many other Britons.
The Prime Minister listens to Michael Bublé as he works late on his prime ministerial in-tray
Credit: Matt Kent/WireImage
“In the evenings working on my own I just put Bublé on. It’s great when you are signing Christmas cards to get you in the mood,” the Prime Minister said.
He also said he was playing an active role in deciding which members of the Downing Street team sings what line in an up-coming staff carol concert.
“I’ve made sure we are divvying up the ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ across all the different teams in the building, which I’m not sure everyone is loving,” Mr Sunak explained.
“Five Gold Rings is the one everyone wants! They were pitching for Five Gold Rings. It turns out that there are a few choral scholars in the building, so I assembled them into a choir.”
It is not the first time the Prime Minister’s music habits have made headlines.
He named The Beatles as his favourite band during a recent trip to Bali, facing ridicule from some quarters given the group so often tops such lists.
Mr Sunak also triggered eye-rolls from his closest aides in this summer by repeatedly asking his security detail to play the Heart 00s radio station, packed with cheesy pop songs, while on car journeys.
During the interview, Mr Sunak also opened up about his personal Hindu faith – something he feels strongly, according to aides and friends who know him well.
The Prime Minister has a small shrine at home – a focal point for Hindu worship.
‘Faith helps give life purpose and meaning’
Mr Sunak said: “Faith is important to me for two reasons. For me, it certainly helps give life purpose and meaning. But it also gives strength and resilience. Those are the things that my faith does to me.”
He added: “I pray with my kids before I put them to bed. Not that I do as much of that any more. The thing about Hinduism is that, yes, it’s a religion but it is also just a way of life. It’s cultural. So it sometimes feels broader than that.”
He also mentioned values such as respect for elders and education.”They are partly religious values, partly cultural values. It doesn’t fit neatly into that box. But strong families are important, service is an important concept, and duty is a really important concept in Hinduism,” he said.
The Prime Minister also discussed policy, including the on-going wave of public sector strikes, saying he may bring forward tough new legislation next year.
Mr Sunak said: “I’ve taken the approach of reasonableness. If union leaders are not going to act reasonably – as it is clear that they are not at the moment – then I am prepared to introduce tough new strike laws that will minimise the disruption to ordinary people and will protect people’s lives. That’s what we’re working on – at pace.”
Source: telegraph.co.uk