The flat at Number 11 Downing Streethas seen extensive refurbishments in the past two decades before Carrie Symonds made her recent renovations, making further changes to those left by the Camerons. He and his wife, Cherie, installed new artwork, 70-a-roll wallpapers, custom bookcases, new carpets, a mirrored exercise room, a new kitchen, and a new bed reportedly costing 3,500 - or 5,520 in today's money. Inside Downing Street Unlike Symonds, Mrs Cameron had trained as an interior decorator so would have been able to shave costs and nail bargains. The latest upgrade for the flat was carried out by interior designer Lulu Lytle. Business Minister Paul Scully denied that the prime minister was linking support for a Great Exhibition with financial support for flat renovations in his messages. That way, it could be presented as having a wider heritage purpose that would benefit future prime ministers, not just Mr Johnson, he was advised. But the work cost considerably more than that - at least 112,000 based on the amount we know Lord Brownlow contributed. The Conservative Party was fined 17,800 after the Electoral Commission found it had failed to accurately declare all of Lord Brownlow's donations towards the renovation. The walls of the family-friendly flat will have seen their fair share of intrigue and drama over the years but none likely to be as damaging as this weeks scandal over Boris Johnsons spending on decor. In November 2020, the prime minister approached Lord Brownlow by WhatsApp message to approve payments to the interior designer carrying out the work. Sign up for exclusive newsletters, comment on stories, enter competitions and attend events. Getty Images offers exclusive rights-ready and premium royalty-free analog, HD, and 4K video of the highest quality. Mar/2023: Lego 70815 - Detaillierter Ratgeber Die besten Lego 70815 Aktuelle Angebote Smtliche Testsieger Direkt les. It was believed that given Johnsons flat is used in his ministerial capacity, Geidts role for investigating potential breaches of the ministerial code was the final hurdle for Johnson to clear. Although described as 'emerald and stone linen' in colour, the 'Espalier' wallpaper is believed to have inspired Mr Johnson's frustrated remark that his wife was 'spending thousands on gold wallpaper', reports say. Each email has a link to unsubscribe. As we detail above, the Evening Standard estimated that it would have cost upward of 14,000 to wallpaper the entire 11 Downing Street flat in Lulu Lytle wallpaper. The concern is that if a financial gift is kept secret, it might be used to gain favours or political influence. Their annual average spend of taxpayer's money was nearly half that of both the Blairs and the Browns. @alixculbertson. THE BLAIRS (1997-2007) - How Cherie Blair joked decor 'might have been state-of-the-art in the 1960s' and ordered in 70-a-roll wallpaper in what would become a 127,000 makeover over six years. The hallway, sometimes used for family get-togethers, was hung with framed family pictures. There are still unanswered questions over how the refurbishment of Boris Johnsons Downing Street flat was funded. What is the row between Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings all about? White House. Lord Brownlow was asked in May 2020 to set up a Downing Street trust that would fund renovations to the flat above 11 Downing Street, but that trust was never established. Video, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story, was then extensively refurbished by David and Samantha Cameron in 2011. according to the society magazine Tatler. Mr Brown promoted Mr Darling to chancellor to replace himself in 2007, A ground floor meeting room at Number 11 Downing Street is photographed in 2009, CAMERONS (2010-2016) - David and Samantha Cameron made a series of refurbishments totalling 64,000 including a complete overhaul of the bathroom and installing modern kitchen appliances including 3,400 cooker. The non-profit foundation allows its founder's son, gambling tycoon Damian Aspinall, to live in a 30-room manor for a fraction of normal market rates. 'Matters concerning works on the Downing Street estate, including the residences, are covered in the Cabinet Office annual report and accounts.'. The latest upgrade for the flat was carried out by interior designer Lulu Lytle. After being warned that could be unethical, his advisers came up with an alternative scheme. Wallpaper in the drawing room came to 1,500, while 15 rolls for the kitchen came to 825, meaning 4,575 was estimated for wallpaper in total. Prime ministers have an annual allowance of up to 30,000 of taxpayer's money to contribute to costs of maintaining and furnishing the four-bedroom flat, which is grade one listed. VideoRecord numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. 'The makeover is appropriate for a building of such huge importance,' said one. But it said that separate payments of almost 60,000 for the refurbishments made by Lord Brownlow directly to suppliers, did not need to be declared. The internal probe comes after claims the PM solicited donations from . Harry and Meghan told to 'vacate' Frogmore Cottage, Ed Sheeran says wife developed tumour in pregnancy, Rare Jurassic-era bug found at Arkansas Walmart, Prince Andrew offered Frogmore Cottage - reports, Baby's body found as police continue to question couple, Man survives 31 days in jungle by eating worms, China and Belarus call for peace in Ukraine, Bieber cancels remaining Justice world tour dates, Havana Syndrome unlikely to have hostile cause - US. And here's how Number 11 looked as a residence for chancellors in the 1980s and 90s before the Blairs moved in Norman Lamont poses in 1991 in the sitting room of the Number 11 Downing Street flat when it was occupied by the chancellor, Chancellor Nigel Lawson celebrates his birthday with wife Therese and children Emily, 6, and Tom, 11, at the No 11 flat in 1988, Boris Johnson's secret fund for Carrie Symonds' No.10 makeover: Prime Minister plans new charity backed by rich donors to help pay for lavish revamp of private Downing Street flat. Unlike her precedessors, May and her husband Philip didnt spend any money making major refurbishments to the flat, instead opting for a few key pieces of statement furniture. Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds had work carried out on their private residence, the flat above 11 Downing Street. Samantha Cameron's job as creative director of upmarket stationers and leather goods company Smythson shone through in the flat's stylish decor. Tony Blair was the first prime minister to live at No 11 - he and his wife Cherie turned the space into a family home. Given the content of Johnsons messages with Brownlow only became public in January 2022, Labour is calling for the police to investigate Johnson and why he asked Brownlow to approve more redecorating funds in the same message as he promised to look at a project known as the great exhibition 2. Lord Brownlow was asked in May 2020 to set up a Downing Street trust that would fund renovations to the flat above 11 Downing Street, but that trust was never established. She also added extensive bathroom makeovers and a new kitchen, including a 3,400 Britannia range cooker. 'Carrie has exquisite taste. His report says that when he found out in February 2021, Mr Johnson "settled the full amount himself". The Cabinet Office leak will revive the long-running controversy over the Johnsons' refurbishment of their flat above No11. What have previous prime ministers done to No 11 and how much have they spent? And when Mr Brown had a family of his own with his wife Sarah, they were based in his own Westminster house, before moving into the Number 11 flat when Mr Brown became PM in 2007. The crossbench peer will launch his own review into what happened with the Downing Street flat refurbishment, making it the third being undertaken - joining the Electoral Commission probe and a. Soane's clients include five-star hotels and restaurants, private members' clubs, boardrooms, yachts and private houses all over the world. The scheme is based on one used by the White House to raise millions of dollars for interior design, antiques and art - a presidential charity which is bankrolled by private donors. Further questions have been asked about the funding of home improvements at the prime minister's Downing Street flat, following the release of an exchange of letters with his standards adviser. It was painted white throughout, had new carpets downstairs and Samantha, a keen exponent of minimalist dcor, had the grand staircase painted a charcoal black to add drama to the entrance. Cherie reportedly spent 127,000 on modernising the flat with custom-glass . Fresh from his landslide election win in December 2019, Johnson and his then partner, Carrie Symonds, now his wife, pressed ahead with renovating the residence they inherited from Theresa and Philip May. An icon of a desk calendar. Her style is far from the minimalism that Samantha Cameron chose for their refurbishment of No 11 and is more eclectic and splendorous, influenced by her travels, love of animals, and studying Egyptology at university. Her designs combine a riot of bold colours and showstopping old-fashioned glamour. After Margaret Thatcher stopped a proposed refurbishment of the No 11 flat in 1979, saying the public would not be impressed with the expenditure, it remained a product of the 1960s until Tony and Cherie Blair arrived in 1997. Among the changes made by the Camerons to the kitchen were the installation of a 3,400 Britannia range cooker and a Dualit toaster and Gaggia coffee machine, worth about 200 apiece. He is now a senior investment banker at Goldman Sachs. Pictured: A section of the leaked Soane's estimate, showing what the couple considered ordering for the drawing room, Boris Johnson is comforted by his wife Carrie and their children after delivering his statement in Downing Street resigning as the leader of the Conservative Party, July 7. It is believed that an application to register it with the Charity Commission is under way. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. The Independent has obtained a leaked copy of the. A photoshoot with the Sunday Times later showed the sofa covered with brown patterned throw cushions and the coffee table in front of a marble fireplace. Its purpose would be to maintain not just the No 11 flat, but also other parts of Downing Street, including the state rooms. Any money used from Tory party donors to add to that allowance could potentially be in breach of the ministerial code and parliamentary standard rules, even if Mr Johnson effectively paid the money back. If that is the case, that is corruption," the party said. DeSantis won't say he's running. It has since been confirmed that Johnson has now paid for it himself. Do not sell or share my personal information. Prince Charles visited her rattan workshop last year just before the pandemic. Lord Geidt's report in May had concluded that Mr Johnson did not break the ministerial code over the funding of the renovations. Tony Blair with his wife Cherie, and their children Euan (left), then 14, Nicky (right), then 13, and Kathryn (front), then ten, as they appeared on the Prime Minister's Christmas card in December 1998 which was taken at Number 11 Downing Street, The downstairs area of Number 11 Downing Street is pictured in 2005. Lord Brownlow met Oliver Dowden, who was then culture secretary, to discuss the event six weeks after the text exchange with the prime minister, according to the meeting log. Originally occupied by the Chancellor of The Exchequer, the tradition of Prime Ministers opting to move into the more spacious flat at No 11 Downing Street began with Tony and Cherie Blair in 1997 - when the historic residence underwent its first renovation. This is said to have been ruled out on the grounds that the identity of the Tory donors would almost certainly be known to the Prime Minister. As Labour demands an investigation into the prime minister by the Metropolitan police, here is what we know so far. Searing Chinese yellow walls make a study area dramatic, while hand-painted lapis lazuli rocks bring luxury to the master bedroom's Carrara marble ensuite bathroom. Read our, {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}}. The restyled dcor is said to have been inspired by interior designer Lulu Lytle. The Daily Mail initially reported Johnson wanted to set up a Downing Street trust headed by the Tory peer David Brownlow, letting donors pay for the upkeep of various parts of the estate. Carrie Symonds reportedly commissioned upmarket interior designer Lulu Lytle to refurbish the Downing Street flat (Picture: Guy Bell/Rex) Lulu Lytle (pictured) sells 'Yellow Gold' and 'Old. Read about our approach to external linking. In came 70-a-roll wallpapers, new artwork and a set of custom-made glass-fronted bookcases for Mrs Blair's office. Find the latest property for sale in N156SB on Gumtree. Highest annual spend: 2009-10 - 29,389 (35,181 today). It concluded the donation was not declared properly and fined the party 17,000. ', Gordon Brown is pictured in the kitchen of the Number 11 Downing Street flat in October 2008, after moving in a year earlier, Number 11 Downing Street is pictured in 2009, at the time when Gordon Brown was living in the four-bedroom flat upstairs, The staircase leading from the ground floor of Number 11 Downing Street to the living quarters is pictured in 2009, The boardroom at Number 11 Downing Street is pictured in 2009, when Gordon Brown was living in the four-bedroom flat, Chancellor Alistair Darling has breakfast with his wife Margaret (centre) and Ann Coffey (left), his private secretary, in a different section of 11 Downing Street in April 2009. 8 A single roll of the lurid wallpaper from West London designer Lulu Lyte is said to cost a criminally expensive. Pic: British History Online, The Camerons topped up the annual refurb allowance with their own money, Tony and Cherie Blair spent the most amount of taxpayer's money on refurbishing No 11, Gordon and Sarah Brown having some of their furniture moved out of No 11 in 2010, Michelle Obama and Samantha Cameron in No 11 after it was redecorated, Theresa and Philip May spent less than half their annual allowance in three years. However, he concluded that Johnson had not intentionally lied about the messages. 2023 BBC. Lord Geidt complained about not having been shown WhatsApp messages between Boris Johnson and Tory donor Lord Brownlow, which talked about the refurbishment. But when Lord Geidt found out about the messages to Lord Brownlow, he wrote to the prime minister saying that while his overall conclusions about the ministerial code were unchanged, had he seen the messages, "I doubt whether I would have concluded, without qualification that 'at the point when the prime minister became aware, he took steps to make the relevant declaration and to seek advice'.". Like Samantha Cameron, Symonds also arrived pregnant and no one can blame her for wanting to make it her own. Johnson pressed ahead with the renovation plan after his landslide election win in December 2019. Its the most important flat in Britain and has been home to successive prime ministers. The prime minister receives an annual public grant of 30,000 to spend on. In November 2020, the prime minister approached Lord Brownlow by WhatsApp message to approve payments to the interior designer carrying out the work. Read about our approach to external linking. Among them: a red three-seater sofa; a 100 John Lewis chrome table lamp (presumably the target of Symondss comment); a 42 rose-scented Diptyque candle and a 195 Habitat glass-topped coffee table with a 25 Elemis Revitalise Me scent diffuser on top. Here is a rundown of how the flat at No 11 has changed over the years as successive prime ministers moved in: Samantha Cameron speaks with then First Lady Michelle Obama before having tea at Number 11 Downing Street in May 2011, which she redesigned after moving in there with her husband David Cameron following his elected as prime minister in 2010. Published: 17:59 EST, 7 July 2022 | Updated: 08:17 EST, 25 August 2022. Mrs Cameron also updated the cosy sitting room. In the end, the exhibition did not happen, but Labour says Lord Brownlow's November 2020 text exchanges with the PM are still important. Out on their private residence, the prime minister receives an annual public grant 30,000. 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