Chancellor Rachel Reeves has faced criticism after it emerged that nearly £20,000 of public money was spent on furnishing her Downing Street flat. The residence, located above 10 Downing Street, was left unfurnished by the previous occupant, Rishi Sunak, who had paid for his own upgrades privately.
Labour confirmed on Friday that £19,759.61 had been spent on furnishings at 10 Downing Street since July 4, 2024, when the party took power. The disclosure came in response to a written question from Conservative MP Charlie Dewhirst. Labour MP Dan Tomlinson stated that the property was provided unfurnished after the departure of previous occupants, and that the new furnishings remain government property for future use.
The spending has sparked public anger, particularly given Reeves' recent warnings of 'tough choices' ahead on tax and spending. An admin of the Reform UK-supporting group Stand up Britain criticised the Chancellor on social media, accusing her of reaching into taxpayers' pockets for her own comfort.
Government documents note that an annual allowance of up to £30,000 is provided for maintaining the Downing Street residence, and that using public funds for furnishings is standard practice. However, the scale of the expenditure has drawn comparisons to previous controversies, such as Boris Johnson's £112,000 refit of 11 Downing Street, which was initially funded by a donor and later repaid.
