Guido’s FOI Unit has obtained the full set of purchases Starmer made for his flat of residence on Downing Street. Totalling over £15,000…
Downing Street says the “Government is legally required to maintain the Downing Street buildings to the high standards appropriate to its Grade 1 and 2 listed status in consultation with Historic England. The listed status, as well as security and other relevant factors, significantly add to the cost of maintenance and repairs, compared to normal properties.” Limbering up…
£14,319.20 was spent on refurbishment alone. Prime Ministers have an annual allowance of “up to £30,000 a year from the public purse to contribute towards the costs associated with maintaining and furnishing of the residency within the Downing Street estate.” Nice. For. Some.
For Starmer the Cabinet Office “offers to furnish the Prime Minister’s residence upon entering office, which was empty, on a modest basis in which case the items are permanently retained by Government. The total figure spent is proactively published in the Cabinet Office’s annual reports and accounts… The items came under budget and do not belong to the Prime Minister.” A £750 armchair, a £1,395 TV and a £363 ottoman walk into a bar…
Here’s the taxpayer’s receipt:
10 DOWNING STREET
INTERIORS
London SW1A 2AA
DATE: 05/07/2024 — PRESENT
CASHIER: SIR KEIRREG #10
REF: PM/FURNISH/2024
— SEATING —
Ottoman£249.17
Ottoman£363.33
Sofa x3£4,440.00
Armchair£750.00
Kitchen chairs x6£990.00
Dining chairs x10£354.15
Desk chair£112.50
Stool£58.33
Bench£149.17
Bench£125.00
subtotal: £7,591.65
— TABLES —
Side table£950.00
Dining table (160×88)£415.83
Dining table£791.67
Coffee table£41.66
Sofa table£54.17
Console table£140.83
Glass console table£99.99
Dressing table£107.50
Dressing table£290.83
Bedside table x4£163.36
Desk£133.33
subtotal: £3,189.17
— BEDROOM & STORAGE —
Bed£482.50
Bed£1,400.00
Bed£561.67
Wardrobe£272.50
Wardrobe£210.00
Drawers£65.83
Drawers£82.50
Bookcase£29.17
subtotal: £3,104.17
— MISC —
TV unit£1,395.00
Mirror£91.66
Mirror£41.67
Floor lamp£29.17
subtotal: £1,557.50
TOTAL
£15,442.49
33 items · 0 returned
