Gordon Brown has revealed that the full refurbishment of 10 Downing Street is unlikely to ever happen as Prime Ministers are hesitant to vacate the premises for an extended period out of fear of not being able to return. The former Labour leader, aged 74, who served as Prime Minister from 2007 to 2010 after Tony Blair, pointed out the lack of permanent chefs at Downing Street and highlighted the overall need for improvements in various areas of the building.
According to Brown, the issue arises when civil servants inform the incoming Prime Minister, such as Keir Starmer, about the necessity for repairs and refurbishments at Downing Street. However, the prospect of being out of the residence for a projected five years poses a significant challenge as no Prime Minister is willing to risk not returning to office.
Brown cited an example involving Liz Truss, who briefly agreed to the refurbishment plan but left office shortly thereafter. Reflecting on his own experience, Brown emphasized the uncertainty of returning to Downing Street after being relocated to another building, making the comprehensive refurbishment a distant possibility.
In a recent podcast interview with Ruthie Rogers, Brown also shared insights into his upbringing in Scotland, recalling a childhood marked by poverty and wartime food shortages. He recounted an incident from his teenage years when he first encountered alcohol while in the hospital recovering from a rugby injury that caused temporary blindness in one eye.
The candid conversation delved into Brown’s introduction to alcoholic beverages during his hospital stay, where he was offered a selection of drinks each evening, revealing his early encounters with alcohol during a challenging period of his life.
For those interested, the complete interview with Gordon Brown is available on the latest episode of Ruthie’s Table 4 podcast.