Rishi Sunak alongside his wife Akshata Murthy
(Picture: PA)Rishi Sunak and his family plan to move into the flat above No 10 Downing Street - in a reversal of tradition established by previous prime ministers.
It will mark a return to the property for the family, who lived there while Mr Sunak served as Chancellor under Boris Johnson.
Number 10 is traditionally the Prime Minister’s official residence while Number 11 Downing Street is the official residence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Since 1997 however, prime ministers have chosen to live at Number 11, which is more spacious with four bedrooms.
The swap occurred when Tony Blair came into office in 1997. As Mr Blair had three children and then-Chancellor Gordon Brown had none, they swapped so the family could take the bigger Number 11 flat.
Yet the Prime Minister’s press secretary has confirmed Mr Sunak, his wife Akshata Murthy, and their daughters, Krishna and Anoushka “will be moving into the No 10 flat, where they used to live.”
Asked why No 10 and not the bigger No 11 flat, she added: “They were very happy there.”
Boris Johnson and wife Carrie Symonds lived at Number 11 while he was prime minister - and spent £200,000 lavishly redecorating the flat, sparking a backlash.
Asked whether Mr Sunak has plans to redecorate No 10, the Prime Minister’s press secretary said: “Not that I’m aware of.”
There are now a total of four houses on Downing Street - nine, 10, 11, and 12 - since numbers one to eight were demolished in the 19th century.
Number 10 Downing Street is also the official residence of the chief mouser – better known as Larry the Cat. Larry has lived at the property since 2011, after being “recruited” from Battersea Dogs’ and Cats’ Home.
Number 9 Downing Street hosts the media briefing room that the Government spent £2.6 million on renovating.
It is the room where Allegra Stratton – then the Prime Minister’s press secretary –infamously gave a mock TV briefing in which she joked about “a Downing Street Christmas party on Friday night”.
Number 12 Downing Street is officially the Chief Whip’s residence, though their offices are based at Number 9.
