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  "path": "/politics/keir-starmer-downing-street-flat-spending-gb-news",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-15T09:00:03.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Labour delays trans guidance until after elections as pressure mounts on Bridget Phillipson",
    "Keir Starmer hits back at ex-Nato chief after attack on Labour's defence plans",
    "Kemi Badenoch takes aim at Keir Starmer after rejecting cross-party defence offer",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nSir Keir Starmer splashed out tens of thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money kitting out his Downing Street flat with household items including a £1,400 bed, a £1,395 \"TV unit\" and a £1,630 shower screen, GB News can disclose.\n\nOfficials acting for Sir Keir and Lady Starmer also spent £4,440 on three sofas, as well as £990 on six kitchen chairs and £1,207.50 on two dining tables in the months after the 2024 General Election when they moved into the spacious flat above No11.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe list comes from a breakdown of how officials spent the £30,000 a year Sir Keir is entitled to spend as part of a contribution towards maintaining and furnishing the four-bedroom grace and favour flat in the heart of Westminster.\n\nHowever, it will leave the Prime Minister exposed to criticism, given he has spent taxpayers' cash generously on household items at a time when millions of families are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe disclosure of the spending at the flat above No11 is also noteworthy, as it is the same flat previously occupied by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie.\n\nIn 2021, as Leader of the Opposition, Sir Keir was critical of the then-Prime Minister over the expensive renovation of the same flat after \"wallpapergate\" reports revealed that Mr Johnson had spent heavily, including ordering expensive wallpaper with the help of a donor.\n\nOther items bought for the Prime Minister's pad include three beds, one worth £1,400, a second bed worth £561.67 and a third bed worth £482.50, as well as an armchair costing £750 and a \"TV unit\" which cost £1,395 excluding the screen.\n\nTwo Ottoman blanket boxes – costing £363.33 and £249.17 – were also billed to the taxpayer.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nOther items included two dressing tables – one worth £107.50 and a second worth £290.33 – as well as a £140.83 \"console table\".\n\nAdded to the bill under \"refurbishment\" were \"painting works\" worth £9,164, \"storage throughout\" costing £2,803, a \"shower screen\" which cost taxpayers £1,630.26 and blinds worth £721.94.\n\nNo10 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.\n\n\"It’s not unusual for the PM’s family to be consulted on certain elements of the refurbishment but wouldn’t have the details,\" an insider told GB News.\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS\n\n\n\n\n  * Labour delays trans guidance until after elections as pressure mounts on Bridget Phillipson\n  * Keir Starmer hits back at ex-Nato chief after attack on Labour's defence plans\n  * Kemi Badenoch takes aim at Keir Starmer after rejecting cross-party defence offer\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe list of items bought with taxpayers' money was released by No10 following a request under Freedom of Information legislation.\n\nThe Prime Minister's total refurbishment spend hit £14,319.20, with £15,442.47 being spent furnishing the flat.\n\nThe flat had previously been left empty for much of 2024 by then-Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.\n\nSir Keir's plush pad renovations totalled £29,761.67, just below the £30,000 allowance limit in the 2024/25 financial year.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nA Downing Street spokesman told GB News: “The flat was empty when the PM entered office, so the Cabinet Office furnished it as per long-standing guidance across successive administrations.\n\n“The refurbishment came under the allocated budget, and none of the items belong to the Prime Minister.\n\n\"They will remain the property of the Government for future use.”\n\nSources insist the refurbishment was carried out \"on a modest basis\" and any items bought will be \"permanently retained by Government\".\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\"This has been available across successive Governments, dating back to pre-2020,\" they added.\n\nInsiders also stressed the \"Government is legally required to, in consultation with Historic England, maintain the complex to the high standards appropriate to its Grade 1 and 2 listed statuses\".\n\nHowever, Sir Keir's refurbishment spending comes just weeks after the Prime Minister described the cost of living crisis as \"my first priority\".\n\nHe added: “My answer is clear. Whatever challenges lie ahead, this government will always support working people.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Keir Starmer spent £30k of taxpayers' cash on Downing Street flat – including £1.6k on shower screen"
}