Keir Starmer spends ยฃ30k of taxpayer cash on Downing Street refurb | Politics | News


Keir Starmer Visits John Lewis

Keir Starmer visits John Lewis during the pandemic and Boris Johnson’s premiership (Image: Getty)

Sir Keir Starmer spent ยฃ1,600 on a shower screen door as part of a ยฃ30,000 renovation of his Downing Street flat, it has emerged. The Prime Minister spent tens of thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money on his grace-and-favour home in Westminster.

His refurb included a ยฃ1,400 bed, a ยฃ1,395 “TV unit” and a ยฃ1,630 shower screen, according to GB News, which got the data under Freedom of Information Act rules.

Alex Burghart MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Dutchy of Lancaster, said: โ€œLabour ministers refused to tell Parliament how nearly ยฃ30,000 was spent refurbishing the Prime Ministerโ€™s flat, only for those details to be released under a Freedom of Information request.

โ€œThey were happy to keep MPs in the dark about sofas, furniture and refurbishment costs funded by taxpayers, until FOI forced the information into the open. Scrutiny is important and pushes the government to make better decisions – sunlight is the best disinfectant.

โ€œParliament exists to hold ministers to account, but time and again this Government has shown a clear disregard for that scrutiny.โ€

Prime Minister Keir Starmer Takes PMQs Following Easter Recess

The Prime Minister has kitted out his new home in Downing Street (Image: Getty)

Officials acting for Sir Keir and Lady Starmer also spent ยฃ4,440 on three sofas, as well as ยฃ990 on six kitchen chairs and ยฃ1,207.50 on two dining tables in the months after the 2024 General Election, when they moved into the spacious flat above No 11.

Sir Keir is entitled to spend ยฃ30,000 a year as part of a contribution towards maintaining and furnishing the four-bedroom flat in the heart of Westminster. But it could lead to criticism amid a cost-of-living crisis.

Added to the taxpayersโ€™ bill under “refurbishment” were “painting works” worth ยฃ9,164, “storage throughout” costing ยฃ2,803 and blinds worth ยฃ721.94.

No 10 refused to say if Sir Keir and Lady Starmer were consulted on some of the items purchased, but a source suggested the Prime Minister and his wife may have been.

An insider said: “Itโ€™s not unusual for the PMโ€™s family to be consulted on certain elements of the refurbishment, but wouldnโ€™t have the details.โ€

The Prime Minister previously took aim at Boris Johnson and his now-wife Carrie Symonds when they decided to redecorate their 11 Downing Street flat after inheriting a โ€œJohn Lewis furniture nightmareโ€ from Theresa May.

Mr Johnson was accused of using ยฃ58,000 of Tory funds for a lavish refurbishment of his Downing Street flat.

Ms Symonds hired upmarket interior designer, Lulu Lytle, whose Soane Britain company sells โ€œYellow Goldโ€ and โ€œOld Goldโ€ wallpaper.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: โ€œThe flat was empty when the PM entered office, so the Cabinet Office furnished it as per long-standing guidance across successive administrations.

โ€œThe refurbishment came under the allocated budget, and none of the items belong to the Prime Minister. They will remain the property of the Government for future use.โ€

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