In the USA, a brand new president often has a two-month window to arrange to maneuver into the White Home. Freshly elected British prime ministers transfer into Downing Road swiftly, typically inside hours of elections.
Keir Starmer, whose Labour Get together gained a commanding majority within the Home of Commons, was formally appointed prime minister on Friday by King Charles III. Simply hours after his predecessor, Rishi Sunak, made his exit, the brand new prime minister is about to make a speech to supporters outdoors the entrance door of 10 Downing Road.
He shall be ushered contained in the constructing by employees members and obtain a briefing from members of the civil service that, in line with the Institute for Authorities, covers matters together with residing preparations, safety protocols and appointing ministers.
Quantity 10 has had quite a lot of apply with fast transitions. For the reason that final common election 5 years in the past, three prime ministers have lived there, together with Liz Truss, who referred to as Downing Road residence for lower than seven weeks.
The deal with has been residence to Britain’s prime ministers since 1735. It’s a lot bigger than it appears from the road. Past the a lot photographed black door and the checkered entryway corridor, places of work, residing areas and reception rooms stretch out to a lot of 12 Downing Road. A hall connects to Quantity 11, the official residence of the finance minister, or chancellor of the Exchequer.
Prime ministers typically put their very own stamp on the residing quarters, however that largely stays out of public view. When Margaret Thatcher gained her first common election and moved into Downing Road in 1979 — she referred to as it “residing over the store” — she gave the place a makeover.
“The primary-floor examine was redecorated to her style,” wrote the historian Anthony Seldon, describing how she selected a light-weight grey wallpaper, cream-colored furnishings and fashionable artwork.
“She was intensely pleased with her examine: on one event a visitor spilled espresso over the sofa and carpet,” he wrote. “Usually, Mrs. Thatcher spent 20 minutes herself attempting to take away any hint of a stain.”
In 1997, when Tony Blair turned prime minister, he and his spouse Cherie selected to stay in Quantity 11, quite than Quantity 10, due to its bigger residing space. Their fourth youngster was born whereas they have been residing there.
In 2011, when Michelle Obama visited, the world received a glimpse of how David Cameron’s spouse, Samantha Cameron, had redecorated the place by way of a photograph launched by the White Home that was pored over by the British press.
Ten years later, Boris Johnson’s then-fiancée, Carrie Symonds, put her personal lavish stamp on the residence, sparking an investigation. The prime minister is given an annual allowance of 30,000 kilos, or round $38,000, from the general public purse to pay for renovations to Downing Road. The renovation reportedly far exceeded that quantity.
Its occupants haven’t at all times been comfy. Ms. Truss stated in her memoir that she had spent weeks being bitten by fleas that some suspected had been introduced in by the canine belonging to her predecessor, Mr. Johnson. Quantity 10 needed to be fumigated.
