Thinking of moving house in the next few weeks? You're in good company. As Gordon Brown ascends to his new post as Prime Minister, not only will he get the key to the door at 'Number Ten', but his senior staff will also be rubbing their hands in glee at their new pads. For those among Gordon's Glitterati who survive the reshuffle, the reward will be not only their coveted new positions, but use of a multi-million pound country residence along with an exclusive city crash-pad. So, who gets what? This week, I take a look at the government's property portfolio, how much it's worth, and who will be moving where.....
Residence: 10 and 11 Downing Street, Westminster
Who Lives There: The Prime Minister
Estimated Current Value: £35.5million
'Number Ten' has been central to British, if not world politics, since the 1700's and is the official residence of the Prime Minister. Margaret Thatcher called the property "one of the most precious jewels in the national heritage"; it's certainly one of the most precious pieces of real estate in the country, with its fantastic Westminster location in Downing Street only a few minutes from Buckingham Palace (always useful to be nearby to be able to pop round for afternoon drinkies with the lady herself) and close for work too – the Houses of Parliament are only a stone's throw away. Home to the greatest men (and women) in our history, the property itself is a multi-storied townhouse, with only the top floor, which was originally the servants quarters, used as an apartment by the PM. The rest of the building has long since been converted into offices which are used on a daily basis by a team of civil servants and special advisors, including the Press Office and Strategic Communications Unit.
The living accommodation though, is actually quite small, meaning that many of our previous Prime Minister's have used the flat as an 'official' residence, whilst maintaining their own private home nearby. Allegedly, Harold Wilson lived round the corner from Number Ten during his second term as PM, however he maintained the myth of actually living at 10 Downing Street by entering via the main door, so he could be photographed by the press as he 'went home', but using the side entrance at the end of each day which is hidden from view. Other Prime Ministers have used the apartments in Admiralty House whilst redecorations or restorative work have been carried out at Number Ten, or after severe damage, when John Major had to move out temporarily in 1991 after an IRA mortar bomb attack.
So cramped is the PM's apartment that, when he came into power in 1997, Tony Blair famously 'swapped' his pad at Number Ten with Gordon Brown (a bachelor at the time) who was living in the traditional official residence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which is the slightly less famous Number Eleven. The apartment next door is actually much more spacious and suited the Blair's as it gave them a bit more room for their three children (let's face it, tripping over toys at 4am when the phone rings isn't fun for anyone, particularly if you're trying to run the country!) After Gordon got married a few years ago, he moved out of Number Ten to a flat he bought for himself and Sarah just up the road, and the Blair family, now with four kids, occupied both flats.
Now, the big question is, having already lived at the legendary 'Number Ten' – and moved out – will Gordon, Sarah and their two small boys leave their current home and opt for a more cozy existence in Downing Street, or will we see them stay put? If rumours about the interior design at Downing Street are true (said to be a rather eclectic mix of Maggie's feminine touch and some leftovers from Edward Heath's days there) then possibly not......
Residence: Admiralty House Apartments, Whitehall
Who Lives There: The Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, and The Leader of the House of Commons
Estimated Current Value: £4million per apartment
To look at it from the outside, this yellow brick, three storey building doesn't give much away about its current – or previous – illustrious residents or visitors. The property was built back in the late 1700's as a home for the then Admiral Lord Howe, and went on to become the official residence of the First Lords of the Admiralty until the mid-sixties. Along the way, it's also been used by several Prime Ministers whilst Number Ten has been repaired or redecorated, including Harold Macmillan, who met there with US President John F Kennedy. Winston Churchill also briefly lived in one of the apartments, as did John Major.
These days, the three flats contained within the building are used for the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, and the Leader of the House of Commons (I hope they don't all take their work home with them....) with the most recent occupants including John Prescott, Margaret Beckett and Geoff Hoon. Whilst the location in Whitehall makes it an enticing option for a minister with a need for a City 'crash pad', others haven't found it quite so useful. Denis Healey, Defence Minister in the sixties, is said to have found the place "highly inconvenient" – proving that there's just no pleasing some people!
Residence: Chequers, Buckinghamshire
Who Lives There: The Prime Minister
Estimated Current Value: £16million
Probably the most famous of all the countryside ministerial properties is the 'out of town' residence of the Prime Minster, Chequers. The sprawling Tudor-style mansion nestles in over 1000 acres, overlooking the rolling Chiltern Hills. The property's unique history is not widely documented, although it is known that there has been a house on the same site since the 11th century, and there were also links to Oliver Cromwell in the 1700's. Chequers was used as a hospital during the First World War, then became a home for convalescing officers. The house was 'donated' to the nation as a country retreat for serving PM's in 1921 by the then owners, Lord and Lady Lee of Fareham, and the first ministerial resident was the then PM, David Lloyd George.
The property now boasts one of the finest private collections of art and antiques in the UK, including an original diary by Lord Horatio Nelson, making it by far the grandest and most exclusive of all the country residences. It's a wonderful entertaining space, and often the venue for soirees with both visiting dignitaries and select celebrity attendees, such as Elton John, David Bowie and TV presenters Richard and Judy. But will Gordon and family feel at home here? Well, there's plenty of space for their boys John and James, and the area boasts some of the best schools in the country, both state and private. The neighbours are also used to a famous face or two, as many other celebrities live in nearby – Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are said to have a pad in the nearby village of Penn – so Sarah shouldn't be bothered by the locals should she venture to the nearest Tesco! The decor is said to be highly traditional, with liberal dashes of Gothic and Tudor inspiration, along with stained glass windows and wood panelling, but I think that might suit Gordon's refined and classic taste just fine.
Residence: Chevening
Who Lives There: The Foreign Secretary
Estimated Current Value: £29million
Near Sevenoaks (one of the South East's premier property hotspots and commuter paradise) this stunning 115 room mansion was built in the early seventeenth century, and is set in a whopping 3500 acres. Left to the nation in 1967 by the 7th Earl of Stanhope – who presumably was a bit fed up of mowing the lawns by that stage – the property was bequeathed on the condition that it was occupied by either the current Prime Minister, a cabinet minister or a descendant of King George VI. The property is used for large-scale entertaining – presumably, there are enough bedrooms to go round when a few visiting dignitaries decide on a 'sleepover' – and has entertained some of the most powerful individuals in politics throughout history, as well as being the venue for the late Robin Cook's second marriage to his wife Gaynor. Such is the beauty of the estate that the former Prime Minster, Lord Roseberry, who was staying as a guest in 1911, allegedly crossed out "Chevening" at the head of a piece of writing paper and substituted "Paradise".
In the Seventies, the then bachelor Prince of Wales considered using the estate, but decided against it and bought Highgrove instead. Interestingly, the Prime Minister has the power to nominate the occupant, but traditionally, Chevening is used by the Foreign Secretary.
Residence: Dorneywood
Who lives there: The Deputy Prime Minister
Estimated Current Value: £8million
It's no wonder that Hilary Benn, Hazel Blears and Harriet Harman are scrapping over the Deputy Prime Minister's post. Not only would it make the winner a key figure in parliament but the added bonus is a weekend pad in the beautiful Buckinghamshire countryside that's easily commutable from the City, and close enough to the PM's country residence should they need to discuss policy at the weekend over a cuppa. Previous residents include Anthony Eden, who lived there briefly, but allegedly spent most of his weekends on the telephone to Chequers bickering with Churchill over foreign policy, and Willie Whitelaw, who by all accounts grew rather attached to the place that other ministers felt was 'a little dreary."
Donated to the nation in the early 1940's by Lord Cortauld-Thomson, Dorneywood is set in an idyllic 215 acres. The red brick building, which was largely rebuilt following a devastating fire in 1910, is said to be covered in fragrant wisteria with distant views of the nearby beautiful forest of Burnham Beeches. Traditionally, Dorneywood is used by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Deputy Prime Minister, although Mr Prescott announced last year that he had made a "personal decision that he no longer wished to use the property." I wonder if he left the croquet set behind for the next lucky resident....?