'I think it's his lucky charm' - Sunak's 'election tradition' pie fresh out the oven

Rishi Sunak will tuck into a special election pork pie from his local butchers tonight, which they believe is his lucky charm.

The PM told of his election night tradition on ITV’s This Morning yesterday (July 3) of devouring a special pie from Kitsons butchers on Northallerton High Street.

Mr Sunak said he has had the pork pie, filled with a layer of blue Stilton and a special Yorkshire pickle, every time he has stood for election.

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And Kitsons’ bosses believe it could be the PM’s “lucky charm”.

The very Pie Rishi Sunak will eat tonight with his family tonight. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Owner Oliver Kitson told the Echo: “I think it’s his lucky charm. I think he might need a bit of luck tonight.

“He rings up and orders it himself. He’s always been supportive of us. He’s a normal bloke to us.

“We made it yesterday afternoon and then it went in to bake this morning. He will be picking it up later on, or one of his team.

“When William Hauge handed over the constituency to Rishi we made a big pie for him which we called the Conservative pie back then.

Campbell Nicholson and Oliver Kitson of Kitsons Butchers Northallerton. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

“It was one of our plain pork pies, but it has Stilton in the middle and Yorkshire pickle on top. Since, then we’ve been making it every election.

“He does come in himself, not as much since he became Prime Minister, but he used to come in on a regular basis and get stuff for the family.”

The pie is normally reserved for Rishi Sunak one night every five years, but on Thursday punters will be able to try a small one for £2.75.

Mr Kitson continued: “We have got some smaller ones in the counter that will be on sale today, tomorrow and possibly over the weekend.”

Mr Sunak could either be starting a lucky trend or leaving a lasting legacy as Kitsons aren’t ruling out giving the pie a regular spot on the menu if they are popular.

“We’ll see what they go like as the small ones and then we might carry them on,” Oliver added.

Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murty arriving to vote in Kirby Sigston. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

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Singing the pie’s praises Rishi Sunak told Ben Shepherd and Cat Deeley on This Morning yesterday: “It’s a very good pork pie with a special chutney and some cheese as well on top and that’s the traditional election night pie which I’ve had in all of the elections I’ve stood at.”

The Prime Minister is spending polling day at his manor house in Kirby Sigston, in the Richmond and Northallerton constituency where he’s hoping to be re-elected as MP.

It may be a long night for Sunak with the seat not expected to declare until 4am, and opinion polling suggesting his party could have fewer than 100 MPs.