Despite the Chancellor’s “war on waste”, eleven Labour frontbenchers splurged on sofas, full-length mirrors and TVs.
Ed Miliband’s Net Zero department spent the most renovating its office (Image: Getty)
Labour ministers have splashed out thousands of pounds on redocorating their offices despite Rachel Reeves’ vow to tighten the public purse strings.
New data shows 11 of Sir Keir Starmer‘s frontbench spent a combined £130,000 on their offices, including buying televisions, mirrors, sofas and chairs, and paintjobs.
The biggest spender was Ed Miliband’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), which forked out £43,000 worth of taxpayers’ money for an office revamp.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner‘s Ministry for Housing, Communities, and Local Government spent a total of £33,790.50. It was revealed that £16,500 of this was spent on regional offices “to ensure ministers are able to work outside of London”.
Angela Rayner speaks prior to the Prime Minister revealing the Government’s ‘Plan for Change’ (Image: Getty)
The Ministry of Justice, led by Shabana Mahmood, used more than £13,000 of public funds to buy, amongst other things, a new freezer, a new chair and two bookcases.
While the Department for Education, headed up by Bridget Phillipson, bought three “low back, full upholstered meeting chairs” were for £542.50 each.
And Hilary Benn’s Northern Ireland office spent more than £800 on a sofa. Separately, it was revealed on Tuesday that the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport had shelled out £1,200 on two luxury folders for carrying official government papers.
Bridget Phillipson leaves Downing Street (Image: Getty)
Tory MP Sir Ashley Fox brought the figures to light and challenged the Government over the costs eyewatering costs.
He said: “It’s a shame that the Chancellor didn’t use her ‘iron fists’ to squash departmental waste before her ministerial colleagues spent £130,000 on redecorating their offices.
“Free-Gear Keir has set the culture from the top, and the members of this Government are clearly more concerned with spending taxpayer money on themselves than they are looking for savings.”
