Prime Minister faces questions over wife’s shares in childminding agency
By Rachel Lawler
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has faced questions from MPs about his wife’s shares in childminding agency Koru Kids, which could potentially benefit from a new policy announced at the Spring Budget.
Last month, the Chancellor announced plans to offer a bonus to new childminders when they register. Under the new plans, those that register with °ϲʹ will be given a £600 joining bonus while those that register with a childminding agency will be given a £1,200 joining bonus.
Currently, there are six childminding agencies – including Koru Kids – which could benefit from the doubled bonus for those that join the early years sector via an agency.
Akshata Murty has been listed as a shareholder in Koru Kids since March 2021. According to in March 2023, she is still a shareholder.
Double bonuses for agencies
Speaking at a session of the House of Commons Liaison Committee, Labour MP Catherine McKinnell asked the Prime Minister why the government would use “tax payers money to give double bonuses to sign up with private agencies rather than through the current system”.
In response, the Prime Minister said that the doubled joining bonus aims to acknowledge the fact that agencies are “intermediaries” and “that there are additional costs” as a result.
When asked by McKinnell if the Prime Minister had “anything to declare” in respect of the new policy, he said: “All my disclosures are declared in the normal way”.
However, the Prime Minister’s wife’s status as a shareholder at Koru Kids is not currently listed in the .
"Throwaway policies"
When the new policy was announced, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Alliance, said: “Once again, the government showed it has failed to understand the needs of childminders, with throwaway policies like childminder agencies and paltry sign-up fees likely to do little, if anything, to stem the flow of talented professionals out of the sector.”
“For far too long, the government has failed to recognise what a pivotal role childminders play in the delivery of quality, flexible care and education."