Rishi Sunak's Rs 79,000 Tumi backpack draws criticism during Cornwall campaign ahead of UK elections

With the UK general election just over a month away, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is campaigning vigorously across the country. Recently, he traveled on an overnight sleeper train from London to Cornwall as part of the Conservative Party's campaign in the South West of England.

Luxury Backpack Raises Eyebrows
During his campaign trail, Sunak was seen carrying a £750 (approximately ₹79,000) personalized Tumi backpack. According to Mirror, the backpack, monogrammed with his initials 'RS', was noted as he visited one of the poorest areas in the country. The Tumi Arrive Bradley backpack is available in high-end stores like Selfridges.



Public Reactions and Social Media Buzz
Sunak's expensive accessory did not go unnoticed and sparked various reactions on social media. "Rich man owns expensive things," commented one user. Another user compared Sunak to Keir Starmer, saying, "That would go well with Keir’s £500 hoodie he loves to wear... this argument about how much is being spent on clothing and accessories is very tired and very boring." Others made light-hearted remarks, like, "As a kid at school we had name tapes to identify ownership of our uniform, but I have not since I grew up needed my name marked on my stuff."

Promises for Cornwall
At a train depot in Penzance, Sunak spoke about his plans for Cornwall, stating that the government would fund up to 100,000 extra apprenticeships a year instead of university courses. "The government would fund up to 100,000 extra apprenticeships a year instead of university courses," he said, reported BBC.

Previous Displays of Wealth
This is not the first time Sunak's luxurious items have made headlines. In July 2022, he wore £490 (approximately ₹51,000) Prada suede shoes during a visit to a building site in Teesside Freeport.

Wealth and Public Perception
According to The Sunday Times Rich List, Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty have a projected net worth of £651 million, making them the wealthiest residents of Downing Street. Their wealth surpasses that of King Charles III. Murty's significant stake in Infosys, co-founded by her father NR Narayana Murthy, has been a major contributor to their fortune.

In 2022, their wealth was ranked higher than that of the late Queen Elizabeth II, whose personal wealth was estimated to be over £370 million.

Sunak's campaign and his display of luxury items continue to draw public interest and discussion, particularly in the context of his wealth and its implications as he seeks to rally support for his party in the upcoming election.