# Why does the PM of the UK live in an apartment? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 20, 2004, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pm-of-the-uk-live-in-an-apartment/270234 "2004-10-20T15:59:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pm-of-the-uk-live-in-an-apartment/270234/1 "2004-10-20T15:59:09Z")
Supposedly Tony Blair, or any other PM, lives at 10 or 11 Downing Street. It’s a townhouse…an apartment! I know, I know… it’s a very nice roomy one, but the fact is, it is still an apartment. Maybe I am coming from too much of an American standpoint where unless you live downtown in a big city, a house is the way to go. Just look at the White House, its 150 rooms with gardens, etc! I know most of the brits hate our president, but at least he gets to live in style. It just seems that a country of the population and world prominence of the UK should take better care of their PM and at least get him a nice sizeable house in London. points-counterpoints 1. It’s downtown, there isn’t a lot of room downtown.— He is your leader for goodness sakes, I think he should get the cream of the crop (after the royalty of course). Level a block, build the man a house. 2. It’s bigger than it looks. — True, but I doubt it’s THAT big. Nothing comparable to a stately big house… say 50 good sized rooms at least. 3. He has other residences. — True. Maybe this is a personal preference, but I would rather have one large nice location than to be hopping all over the place. Has this issue ever been brought up before in the UK? Do people there feel the same way? ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pm-of-the-uk-live-in-an-apartment/270234/2 "2004-10-20T16:01:57Z")
I believe Unca Cece brought up this subject; 10 Downing is a bit of a dump! ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pm-of-the-uk-live-in-an-apartment/270234/3 "2004-10-20T16:02:14Z")
He’s just a party leader who so happens to command a majority in the House. A local residence is a courtesy since he must also represent his riding. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pm-of-the-uk-live-in-an-apartment/270234/4 "2004-10-20T16:04:20Z")
There’s also the official country residence, Chequers, which is a true country house. See [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chequers](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chequers) and [http://www.nationaltrails.gov.uk/ridgewaychequers.htm](http://www.nationaltrails.gov.uk/ridgewaychequers.htm) (Mind you, 10 Downing St isn’t small - there’s a virtual tour [here](http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/page41.asp). The main reason for it still being used as it is is it’s location, just yards from Parliament and also from the various government buildings around Whitehall.) ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pm-of-the-uk-live-in-an-apartment/270234/5 "2004-10-20T16:07:02Z")
> [@Hermitian](#): > > Maybe I am coming from too much of an American standpoint where **unless you live downtown in a big city,** a house is the way to go. You answer your own question. 10 Downing Street is about as “downtown, big city” as you can get. It has the advantage of being very close to the Houses of Parliament. See [map](http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=530091&Y=179938&A=Y&Z=1). Plus, of course, the prime minister gets the use of [Chequers](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/696799.stm), a big house in the country. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pm-of-the-uk-live-in-an-apartment/270234/6 "2004-10-20T16:09:00Z")
Or, exactly what **GorillaMan** said… ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pm-of-the-uk-live-in-an-apartment/270234/7 "2004-10-20T16:12:26Z")
Does the UK have an official residence for the leader of the opposition similar to Canada’s Stornoway house? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pm-of-the-uk-live-in-an-apartment/270234/8 "2004-10-20T16:13:21Z")
10 Downing Street (always say the ‘Street’ part) is a big old Georgian (?) house. Those places are deceptively big, though they don’t look it from the outside. The apartment is roomy for a London apartment anyway, but the downstairs is used to house reception rooms and the servants’ and security quarters. It’s convenient to their workplace, too. And PMs usually have their own house and/or apartment to which they can retreat. And the PM also has use of Chequers, a big huge stately mansion about 50 miles outside of London. Think Camp David in its usage. I for one am glad that the PM’s accommodation isn’t grander. Anything that reminds them that they’re representatives of the people, not holier-than-thou leaders or presidents, is fine by me. And let’s face it, Blair needs reminding that he’s not a president. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pm-of-the-uk-live-in-an-apartment/270234/9 "2004-10-20T16:17:53Z")
> [@Grey](#): > > Does the UK have an official residence for the leader of the opposition similar to Canada’s Stornoway house? No. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pm-of-the-uk-live-in-an-apartment/270234/10 "2004-10-20T16:18:43Z")
Don’t forget, too, property in central London ain’t cheap. Apparently 10 Downing Street is valued at [£20 million](http://216.239.59.104/search?q=cache:wN1D1L-WMMAJ:heritage.scotsman.com/cfm/heritagenews/headlines_specific.cfm%3Farticleid%3DEN01127448%26subset%3Darchive+%2210+downing+street%22+market+value&hl=en), or about $36 million. This does sound fairly high, so I guess it takes into account the fame value and presumably the contents. FWIW the White House has been valued at [$106 million](http://www.seattle24x7.com/ignoramus/ignoramus.htm). ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pm-of-the-uk-live-in-an-apartment/270234/11 "2004-10-20T16:23:54Z")
I very much doubt that £20m figure includes the contents. (And as that was three years ago, I guess it’s worth about £30m now…) ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pm-of-the-uk-live-in-an-apartment/270234/12 "2004-10-20T16:25:27Z")
The Current PM lives in 11 Downing St (the residence of the Chancellor - the Chief Whip lives at number 12) as the accommodation is larger and Blair still has a family living with him. Gordon Brown Lives in Number 10 and works in number 11. He only has a little baby. Why do they live in a smallish house? For the same reason that lots of things happen in Britain - because they always have done. Blair’s also just brought a house in a truly vile part of london for about £3.5m - it’s horrid. That is his private home from his own money. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pm-of-the-uk-live-in-an-apartment/270234/13 "2004-10-20T16:29:45Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > No. Thought not. Stornoway is new for us. Well as new as 50 years old can be. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pm-of-the-uk-live-in-an-apartment/270234/14 "2004-10-20T16:37:24Z")
> [@Hermitian](#): > > … > Has this issue ever been brought up before in the UK? Do people there feel the same way? Part the first - not as far as I know - which is not far, admittedly. Part the second - this person here does not feel the same way. Let him go and live in an inner-city tower block, or near the nuclear weapons of which he seems so fond. (Yes, I have other suggestion too, but thought I ought to stop there) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pm-of-the-uk-live-in-an-apartment/270234/15 "2004-10-20T17:11:30Z")
> [@Grey](#): > > Thought not. Stornoway is new for us. Well as new as 50 years old can be. I suppose I should elaborate a bit - apart from the Downing St residences and Chequers, everything else is done as financial allowances, including: > [@](#): > > Funding for the running costs of the Leader of the Opposition’s office… The figure for 2003-2004 was £548,101.65 and > [@](#): > > Additional Costs Allowance of £20,902 pa > Reimburses Members with constituencies outside inner London for expenses incurred in staying overnight away from home whilst performing parliamentary duties. Plus a whole variety of other more typical costs which can be claimed (even down to a 20p/mile bicycle allowance…) [http://www.parliament.uk/faq/pay\_faq\_page.cfm](http://www.parliament.uk/faq/pay_faq_page.cfm) ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pm-of-the-uk-live-in-an-apartment/270234/16 "2004-10-20T17:17:06Z")
> [@Hermitian](#): > > Has this issue ever been brought up before in the UK? Do people there feel the same way? I overlooked this…and no, there’s no way there’d be public support for giving the PM any more freebies. Quite the reverse. Even a raise in his salary is enough to cause disquiet. Partly this is the difference with a presidential system - Bush is the head of state, the the role responible for displaying the prestige of the nation. In Britain, that’s the Queen’s position (hence the extraordinary Royal Banquets and the like for state visits). ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pm-of-the-uk-live-in-an-apartment/270234/17 "2004-10-20T17:20:13Z")
Let’s also remember that, unlike the L’Entfant and Americans who planned D.C., when the British decided to make the Executive residence official, they didn’t have the luxury of putting it any damn place they wanted and then building a city around it. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![alphaFemale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecb155/32.png) [@alphaFemale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaFemale)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pm-of-the-uk-live-in-an-apartment/270234/18 "2004-10-20T17:44:02Z")
> [@Hermitian](#): > > Maybe I am coming from too much of an American standpoint where unless you live downtown in a big city, a house is the way to go. i am american and i would prefer to purchase an apartment. tis a matter of opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Crandolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Crandolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crandolph)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pm-of-the-uk-live-in-an-apartment/270234/19 "2004-10-20T18:02:44Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > Plus, of course, the prime minister gets the use of [Chequers](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/696799.stm), a big house in the country. Can you buy a cheeseburguer at Chequers? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pm-of-the-uk-live-in-an-apartment/270234/20 "2004-10-20T18:18:41Z")
Of course – ya gotta eat! –Cliffy [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-pm-of-the-uk-live-in-an-apartment/270234.md?page=2)