Boris Johnson unveiled his new £2.6million White House-style press room press room yesterday – but it has been almost universally panned as a knock-off Judge Rinder TV set composed with a moodboard of colours based on the B&M Bargains logo.
The Prime Minister addressed the nation last night – but many said they couldn’t keep their eyes off the ‘naff’ new room, ‘gaudy’ lighting and lecterns that looked like they were straight from a 1980s US courtroom drama.
An extensive overhaul within No 9 Downing Street began last year as the Government announced the plans to hold the televised briefings in a purpose-built room costing the taxpayer millions.
Last night the Prime Minister stood on the brightly-lit blue stage flanked by Union flags and Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance, who stood behind lecterns with ‘Downing Street’ inscribed on them surrounded by large oak panels.
But the grand unveiling did not go as planned, with viewers largely appalled by what they saw, sparking an avalanche of criticism on social media.
One critic wrote that the new press room was ‘giving off Judge Rinder energy’ while another said that Mr Whitty looked like he had been ‘called on to the ITV show to claim the money he’s owed’.
Another viewer shared a picture of the press conference and the B&M Bargains logo and declared: ‘That’s where they got the colour scheme from’. Another said: ‘They’ve made a nice Georgian room look like a cheap television studio’.
Others questioned how £2.6million could be spent on something that looked so ‘tacky’.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance during a media briefing on coronavirus (Covid-19) from Downing Street’s new White-House style media briefing room
The view from behind the lectern inside the room that has cost taxpayers £2.6million
Many compared the new layout to Judge Rinder’s ITV set – and some suggested that Chris Whitty looked like he was on to the show
One wag showed how the press room appeared to be inspired by the B&M Bargains logo
The cost of the refurbishments for the televised question and answer sessions with journalists was revealed as Boris Johnson faces pressure over the funding of a separate revamp to his official residence.
In response to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request, the Cabinet Office on Friday issued a breakdown of the costs totalling £2,607,767.67, largely excluding VAT.
The department said that funds have been spent to allow daily broadcasting by various news organisations within the Grade I listed building.
‘This will necessarily require one-off capital works, including audio-visual equipment, internet infrastructure, electrical works and lighting,’ the response said.
‘This spending is in the public interest as the new broadcasting of lobby briefings will increase public accountability and transparency about the work of this Government now and in the future.
‘Such spending on maintenance and technical facilities reflects that 9 Downing Street (the Privy Council Office) is a Grade I listed building.’
One viewere pondered whether the patriotic colour scheme should have led to Boris Johnson’s advisers wearing Union flag suits
Others questioned how £2.6million could be spent on something that looked so ‘cheap’
The disclosure came as the Prime Minister faces pressure over the refurbishment of his official flat above No 11 overseen by his fiancee, Carrie Symonds.
With costs reported to be spiralling, Downing Street refused to deny that Mr Johnson is considering setting up a charity to pay for the works to the flat.
The move raised concerns of possible conflicts of interest, offering a potential backdoor to providing a financial benefit to the Prime Minister.
The televised briefings were said to be the brainchild of Mr Johnson’s former adviser Lee Cain.
But he reportedly disagreed with the Prime Minister’s choice of former journalist Allegra Stratton as press secretary to lead the briefings as a Government spokeswoman.
Mr Cain later left Downing Street, along with former Vote Leave colleague Dominic Cummings, as a behind-the-scenes power struggle within No 10 spilled out into the open.
An advert said the salary for the press secretary role would be based on experience, but reports suggested the taxpayer-funded post would pay around £100,000 a year.
The FoI response, which was delayed by several weeks as officials decided whether the disclosure was in the public interest, included £1,848,695.12 for the ‘main works’.
Other costs included £198,023.75 on ‘long lead items’, and £33,394.63 on broadband equipment.
The launch of the televised briefings had been anticipated as early as the autumn, but in January No 10 said they were being delayed as ministers planned to hold regular press conferences during the lockdown.
Lobby correspondents, the political reporters based in Parliament, currently have daily briefings with the Prime Minister’s official spokesman, or his deputy. Both are civil servants.
But under proposals set out in July, an afternoon session will be filmed at 9 Downing Street and will be led by Ms Stratton.
As a politically-appointed special adviser, rather than an impartial civil servant, she will be able to take aim at opponents as well as defend the Government’s actions.
