The concern is that if a financial gift is kept secret, it might be used to gain favours or political influence. You can opt-out at any time by signing in to your account to manage your preferences. The Electoral Commission report led to further controversy because it referred to an exchange of WhatsApp messages between the prime minister and Lord Brownlow, which had not been seen by the adviser on standards, Lord Geidt, when he had reported on the case earlier in the year. It mixes old and new Soane pieces, along with textiles collected worldwide, paintings, maps and artefacts. The Grade 1-listed flat was then extensively refurbished by David and Samantha Cameron in 2011 at a cost of 30,000. The Independent has obtained a leaked copy of the. Find all the latest news and updates from stories around the UK. He reportedly said during one meeting that the sum amounted to 'tens and tens of thousands'. The simple kitchen was kitted out with her favourite stainless steel utensils and rows of matching pots and pans. The Camerons also let the cameras in to photograph the Prime Minister working in the sitting room and meeting foreign heads of state - and his wife hosting charity meetings around the breakfast table. On Wednesday, Britain's political spending watchdog announced an investigation into whether funds used to pay for the refurbishment of 11 Downing Street were properly disclosed. Mrs Blair's memoirs record her first impression of the flat as being a whiff of Mr Clarke's cigar smoke and 'a series of heavy mahogany wardrobes that smelt of cedar and mothballs' as her 'heart sank at the sight of the kitchen.'. A White House Furnishings Committee established by John F Kennedy's wife Jacqueline was replaced in 1964 by the Committee for the Preservation of the White House, which includes top interior designers who advise on makeovers of the Oval Office study. She said: 'The commission made a number of ongoing routine inquiries at the end of last year as part of its regular checks. 10 Downing Street Flat Refurbishment How much money has been spent on refurbishing the flat in 10 Downing St currently occupied by the Chancellor of the Exchequer? The 'glum' decor is said to have been removed in favour of vintage furniture restored by hand by Miss Symonds and the hall floors stripped and burnished - with the living area, often lit by candles, painted deep green. VideoRecord numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. 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. She is the founder and director of Soane Britain which 'designs and makes British-made furniture, upholstery, lighting, fabrics and wallpaper' based on 'traditional crafts including blacksmiths'. They ripped out the Blair's mirrored exercise room and replaced the kitchen with a minimalist design of brushed steel and floating shelves. Johnson pressed ahead with the renovation plan after his landslide election win in December 2019. What's he waiting for? DeSantis won't say he's running. 41The Wirral News Wednesday, February 8, 2012 BIR Visit our website: www.wirralnews.co.uk MAVIS DRIVE, UPTON 850 PCM Unfurnished, Detached House 4 Bedrooms 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. Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds had work carried out on their private residence, the flat above 11 Downing Street. @alixculbertson. 2023 BBC. They spent more than the annual allowance of 30,000 when they moved in but footed the extra bill with their own cash. Miss Symonds is involved in another charity controversy. An estimate of 208,104 was sent to the Cabinet Office - which has an annual budget of 30,000 for renovating the Prime Minister's residence - at the start of 2020 in the early stages of the project, the Independent reports. A friend of hers told the Daily Mail: "The makeover is appropriate for a building of such huge importance. Lord Geidt complained about not having been shown WhatsApp messages between Boris Johnson and Tory donor Lord Brownlow, which talked about the refurbishment. 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. 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. The Prime Minister and his fiance Carrie Symonds moved into No11 last year and spent lockdown giving the place a major makeover. It is classic, stunning, stylish and chic. 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'.". It has since been confirmed that Johnson has now paid for it himself. In 2011, she put her money where her mouth is and bought the last rattan-weaving workshop left in England and started an apprenticeship programme. One friend of Miss Symonds said:'The makeover is appropriate for a building of such huge importance. Lord Geidt concluded the prime minister acted unwisely to proceed with the renovations without more rigorous regard for how this would be funded given the trust never came to fruition, but said Johnson assured him he knew nothing about the source of the payments until immediately prior to media reports in February 2021. The flat was seemingly stuck in the 1960s until Tony and Cherie Blair began living there in 1997. While they spent less than a third of their budget on average, in their second year the Mays spent nothing. In addition he has had an expensive divorce from his ex-wife, Marina Wheeler. 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. Now, it has been claimed Boris Johnson is secretly trying to set up a charity to help pay for a costly makeover of the Cameron's flat by his fiance Carrie Symonds after claiming the cost was 'totally out of control'. The work of interior designer Lulu Lytle (pictured) was Carrie Symonds' inspiration for the refurbishment of the Downing Street apartment, according to Tatler Guy Bell/Shutterstock On. And on Wednesday, a formal investigation was launched into the revamp after a watchdog found "reasonable grounds to suspect that an offence or offences may have occurred". The Prime Minister has been accused of . Prince Charles visited her rattan workshop last year and her fabrics start at 100 a metre. 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. The main . A No 10 spokesman said: 'The Downing Street complex is a working building, as well as containing two ministerial residences. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 'The makeover is appropriate for a building of such huge importance,' said one. A leaked copy of an estimate for renovations at Boris Johnson's Downing Street flat shows he had some extravagant plans for the place. 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. 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'.". Boris Johnson's flat refurbishment: Downing Street refuses to reveal why PM's old phone was accessed after claiming it could not be Lord Geidt, the independent adviser on ministers' interests, told Boris Johnson of his "grave concern" after a second investigation into the Downing Street flat refurb. 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. The restyled dcor following the overhaul by Carrie Symonds after moving into Number 11 Downing Street is said to have been inspired by interior designer Lulu Lytle - with examples of her work pictured above. He is said to have agreed to the proposal. 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. And the Browns appear to have been perfectly content with the property, because there are no records that he spent a penny on upgrades. A leaked email has now revealed Tory peer Lord Brownlow donated 58,000 towards the project, adding that the donation should be attributed to the soon-to-be-formed Downing Street Trust. Former Met acting commissioner described rape as regretful sex, Detectives hunting for Constance Martens baby find remains of infant, London Ambulance Service told to improve its ethnic diversity, Third of London pupils miss first pick of school, Shocking moment moped narrowly misses 70mph train at level crossing, Armed police swoop on Hackney Central station after man knifed. The internal probe comes after claims the PM solicited donations from . Enter your password to log in. Alix Culbertson Sign up for exclusive newsletters, comment on stories, enter competitions and attend events. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group, 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. They say its often the small things that undo you will Lytles gold wallpaper be Johnsons unravelling? Read about our approach to external linking. Lord Geidt added: "The record shows no evidence that the prime minister had been informed" about the payments. Play it now! Mr Johnson has asked multi-millionaire financier and Tory peer Lord Brownlow, who has close links with the Royal Family, to run the charity. Boris Johnson bats away questions about Downing Street flat refurbishment as sleaze storm grows, Lulu Lytle: the interior designer whos inspired the Number 11 Downing Street makeover, What is the Willow Project? It went on for more than a year and was disrupted by Covid. "I won't sleep in Ken Clarke's bed," Mr Blair said of the outgoing Tory chancellor when he became PM in 1997. What is the latest refurb like and who did it? The four-bedroom residence is located upstairs, Floor plans for Number 10 and 11 Downing Street show the second floor of the complex has a large number of bedrooms, Number 11 Downing Street is pictured in 2005, eight years after Tony Blair became PM and opted for the four-bedroom flat, Number 11 Downing Street, pictured in 2005, remained a product of the 1960s until Tony and Cherie Blair arrived in 1997, THE BROWNS (2007-2010) - How Gordon Brown was happy with an 'adequate' and 'old fashioned' kitchen for his wife Sarah to cook him 'homely' meals. What have previous prime ministers done to No 11 and how much have they spent? The row over how Boris Johnson has funded the refurbishment of his Downing Street flat has placed a spotlight on one of the UK's most famous apartments. Mr Johnson first expressed concern at the rising cost early last year. After being warned that could be unethical, his advisers came up with an alternative scheme. 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