Gordon Brown has revealed that 10 Downing Street will likely never undergo a full refurbishment because no Prime Minister is willing to vacate the premises for the extended period required. The former Labour leader, who served as Prime Minister from 2007 to 2010 after Tony Blair, highlighted the lack of full-time chefs in Downing Street and the overall need for improvements in various parts of the building.
Brown recounted a scenario where a civil servant approached Keir Starmer with a refurbishment proposal that would require the Prime Minister to relocate for at least five years. He explained that due to the uncertainty of remaining in office, no Prime Minister would agree to such a long absence from Downing Street. Brown cited Liz Truss as an example, who acquiesced to the plan despite her brief tenure.
During an interview on the Table 4 podcast with Ruthie Rogers, Brown also shared insights into his upbringing in Scotland, recalling times of poverty and wartime shortages where porridge and omelettes were staples. He reminisced about his first encounter with alcohol as a teenager while hospitalized for a rugby injury that eventually led to blindness in one eye.
Reflecting on his hospital stay, Brown humorously recalled the nightly offering of alcoholic beverages, which introduced him to the world of drinks at a young age. The former Prime Minister quipped about the allure of free beer in the health service setting during his formative years.
The complete interview with Gordon Brown can be accessed on the latest episode of Ruthie’s Table 4 podcast released today.