David Lammy has retained his luxurious £25 million grace-and-favour residence in Westminster despite being moved from the Foreign Office to the Ministry of Justice in Sir Keir Starmer’s cabinet reshuffle, sparking controversy over ministerial property allocation.
The Deputy Prime Minister continues to occupy the flat at One Carlton Gardens, the prestigious Regency-era property backing onto St James’s Park, whilst new Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has declined to move in, preferring to remain in her North London family home just five minutes’ walk from her Whitehall office.
The unusual arrangement means Cooper will use the grand diplomatic rooms for official receptions whilst Lammy retains the private ministerial flat above, creating an awkward split in one of Britain’s most prestigious government residences valued at approximately £25 million.
Luxurious Westminster Property Split Between Ministers
One Carlton Gardens stands as one of the most luxurious ministerial residences in Westminster, boasting three bedrooms, two dining rooms and a ballroom across its six storeys. The Regency-era property, which backs directly onto St James’s Park, has traditionally housed Foreign Secretaries since the end of the Second World War.
The property is divided between official rooms for Government business and a private flat for ministerial accommodation. Under the new arrangement, Cooper will have use of the property’s grand rooms for diplomatic receptions, whilst Lammy continues residing in the private flat above.
The residence’s prestige reflects its role in British diplomacy, having hosted countless international negotiations and state receptions over the decades. Its retention by Lammy despite his move to Justice Secretary raises questions about the appropriate allocation of such prestigious government properties.
The previous Conservative government had already broken with tradition by lending the property to Lord Gove as a London pad following his split from his wife, rather than housing the serving Foreign Secretary.
Cooper Opts for Family Home Over Westminster Residence
Yvette Cooper has declined to move into Carlton Gardens despite the property being just a five-minute walk from her new Foreign Office headquarters in King Charles Street. The new Foreign Secretary has chosen to remain in her North London family home with husband Ed Balls, the former Cabinet minister.
Cooper and Balls share family homes in North London and Yorkshire, maintaining established domestic arrangements rather than relocating to the prestigious Westminster address. The decision reflects practical considerations for the couple, who have built their family life away from the Westminster bubble.
Instead of Carlton Gardens, Cooper will use Chevening, the Foreign Secretary’s country residence on the outskirts of Sevenoaks in Kent, for official entertaining and weekend retreats. The 115-room mansion provides ample space for diplomatic functions outside London.
Multiple foreign secretaries have previously chosen not to use Carlton Gardens for personal accommodation, maintaining the precedent of using the house solely for ministerial business whilst living elsewhere in their own properties.
Rayner’s Admiralty House Flat Stands Empty
Angela Rayner’s former grace-and-favour flat in Admiralty House remains vacant following her resignation from Cabinet. The property’s emptiness adds another layer to questions about efficient use of ministerial residences worth millions of pounds.
Rayner’s use of the Admiralty House property had led to her resignation after it emerged taxpayers were paying her council tax on the property. The controversy deepened when she stopped renting her own London property after gaining use of the government flat.
The former Deputy Prime Minister then purchased another home in Brighton for £800,000, avoiding £40,000 in stamp duty through her status as a first-time buyer in the area. This tax avoidance ultimately triggered her resignation and Starmer’s subsequent cabinet reshuffle.
Following her resignation, Sir Keir reshuffled his cabinet, leading to Lammy being moved from the Foreign Office to the Ministry of Justice whilst gaining the Deputy Prime Minister title. Despite this demotion from a Great Office of State, he has retained the Carlton Gardens residence.
Demotion from Great Office of State
Lammy’s move from Foreign Secretary to Justice Secretary represents a significant demotion, as he no longer occupies one of the four Great Offices of State. While he gained Rayner’s Deputy Prime Minister title, the Justice portfolio carries considerably less prestige than the Foreign Office.
The reshuffle followed immediately after Rayner’s resignation over her property tax scandal. Lammy had served as Foreign Secretary for just over a year, a relatively short tenure for such a senior position in normal political circumstances.
His new role at the Ministry of Justice, whilst important, removes him from the international stage where he had been managing Britain’s response to global crises and trade negotiations. The Foreign Office typically ranks as the second or third most prestigious cabinet position after Prime Minister and Chancellor.
Despite this clear demotion in portfolio importance, Lammy has managed to retain one of the most valuable perks of his former office – the Carlton Gardens residence that traditionally accompanies the Foreign Secretary role.
Prime Minister’s Power of Patronage
The allocation of ministerial residences remains a formal decision made by the Prime Minister, giving Sir Keir Starmer the authority of patronage to offer these properties to his allies in Cabinet. These decisions carry significant political weight beyond mere administrative arrangements.
Starmer’s choice to allow Lammy to remain at Carlton Gardens whilst moving him to a lesser portfolio suggests either compensation for the demotion or recognition of the practical difficulties in relocating ministerial families mid-term.
The Prime Minister holds complete discretion over these grace-and-favour properties, using them as tools of political management within his Cabinet. The properties serve not just as accommodation but as symbols of favour and status within the government hierarchy.
This patronage power allows Prime Ministers to smooth over difficult reshuffles or reward loyalty, though it can also create awkward situations when ministers change roles but retain the perks of their former positions.
Questions Over Property Allocation
The current arrangement raises serious questions about the efficient use of government properties worth tens of millions of pounds. With Rayner’s Admiralty House flat standing empty and Carlton Gardens split between two ministers, critics may question taxpayer value.
The situation becomes more complex given that Cooper, as Foreign Secretary, would traditionally have first claim on Carlton Gardens. Her decision to decline the property whilst Lammy retains it creates an unprecedented situation in modern British politics.
These grace-and-favour properties require substantial maintenance and security costs regardless of occupation levels. Taxpayers fund the upkeep of these historic buildings whether they house one minister, two, or stand partially empty.
The arrangement also creates potential protocol issues when Cooper needs to host diplomatic events in a building where her predecessor, now colleague, continues to reside in the private quarters above.
Historical Context and Modern Complications
The Foreign Secretary has traditionally occupied One Carlton Gardens since the end of the Second World War, establishing it as one of the most prestigious addresses in government. The property’s location and grandeur made it ideal for diplomatic entertaining.
However, modern politics has complicated these traditional arrangements. Ministers increasingly maintain their own substantial properties and family arrangements separate from their official roles, making grace-and-favour residences less essential for accommodation.
The previous government’s decision to house Lord Gove at Carlton Gardens following his marital split had already broken with convention. That arrangement, justified on compassionate grounds, set a precedent for non-Foreign Secretaries occupying the property.
Multiple foreign secretaries have chosen not to reside at Carlton Gardens over the years, using it purely for official functions. However, none previously involved the former occupant retaining residence whilst serving in a different cabinet role.
Political Implications and Public Perception
The retention of such a prestigious residence by a demoted minister risks public backlash at a time when the government faces criticism over various policies. The optics of Lammy keeping a £25 million property whilst no longer serving in a top-tier role may prove politically damaging.
Opposition parties are likely to seize on the arrangement as evidence of jobs for the boys or inappropriate use of public resources. The situation becomes more acute given Labour’s traditional stance on privilege and fair use of taxpayer money.
The empty Admiralty House flat compounds the perception problem, suggesting inefficient management of valuable state assets. Critics may argue these properties should either be fully utilised or sold to reduce government expenditure.
The arrangement also raises questions about Starmer’s political management and whether allowing Lammy to keep Carlton Gardens was necessary to secure his cooperation in accepting the demotion to Justice Secretary.
What Happens Next
The unusual split arrangement at Carlton Gardens appears set to continue for the foreseeable future, with Cooper showing no intention of relocating from her family home to Westminster. This leaves Lammy secure in his prestigious residence despite his diminished portfolio.
The empty Admiralty House flat awaits allocation to another minister, with speculation about which rising star might be granted this prestigious Westminster address. The property’s vacancy represents a missed opportunity for the Prime Minister to reward loyalty or achievement within his ranks.
Any future cabinet reshuffles could trigger another round of musical chairs in Westminster’s grace-and-favour properties. However, having established the precedent of allowing Lammy to remain, Starmer may find it difficult to remove him without causing further disruption.
As the government faces crucial challenges ahead, including economic difficulties and declining poll numbers, the perception of ministerial perks and privileges may become an increasing political liability, forcing a reconsideration of these historic arrangements.
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Image Credit:
David Lammy, 2024 (official cabinet portrait) — photo by Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street, CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication.
