Keir Starmer spent another £8,500 doing up his Downing Street apartment last year… before being ousted as PM

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 08:53 EDT, 15 September 2026 | Updated: 08:59 EDT, 15 September 2026 Keir Starmer splurged another £8,500 on his Downing Street apartment last year - shortly before being ousted.The taxpayer spending came on top of the near-£30,000 outlay from the ex-PM's first 12 months in the grace-and-favour flat.The costs for 'routine redecoration and modernisation' were slipped out in the Cabinet Office's latest accounts. Following his general election triumph in July 2024 the Labour leader and his family moved into the flat above No11, which is often preferred by PMs as it is larger than the No10 apartment. In 2024-25 some £14,319.20 was spent on refurbishment and £15,442.47 on furniture.In the most recent financial year the accounts say that £8,546 went on 'refurbishment'. Following his general election triumph in July last year Keir Starmer and his family moved into the flat above No11, which is often preferred by PMs as it is larger than the No10 apartmentBut within months Sir Keir was announcing his departure as PM after a mutiny by his own MPs, with Andy Burnham taking over in July. Premiers get an allowance of up to £30,000 a year towards the upkeep of the residence. They are given the choice of installing their own furniture or getting the Cabinet Office to purchase 'modest' fittings - which belong to the Government. The occupant of the No11 flat before Sir Keir was Jeremy Hunt, who paid to have new carpets from his own pocket. Rishi Sunak had opted to live above No10, which he fitted out at his own expense while serving as Chancellor.The allowance is a long-standing perk of living in the grace-and-favour residences. The PM and Chancellor also do not have to pay bills for energy or other utilities.Instead they are charged a 'benefit in kind' that is capped at 10 per cent of their ministerial salaries. That means they contribute around £3,000 to cover all utilities and other expenses, and the sum does not go up.Sir Keir, who earned £169,000 as PM and an MP, also benefited from some of the lowest council tax rates in the country in Westminster.A No10 spokesman said: 'These are routine annual accounts which are published transparently every year.'Prime Ministers have long had access to an allowance of up to £30,000 to contribute towards the maintenance and furnishing of the official residence.'In 2025-26, expenditure totalled £8,546 on refurbishment works. The Downing Street estate includes listed buildings and must be maintained to the appropriate standard.'