• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Meet the Team
  • Contact us
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
  • JOBS
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
  • JOBS
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home News Media

Money well spent? Reactions as £2.6m Downing Street media room is now ready

Labour previously branded the hi-tech refurbishment a “vanity project”.

Joe Mellor by Joe Mellor
2021-03-25 15:00
in Media, News
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

The Prime Minister will make his debut appearance in Downing Street’s newly-completed White House-style briefing room next week when he leads a Government press conference.

Downing Street has confirmed that work on its media room in No 9 – which the PA news agency revealed had cost £2.6 million to install – is finished.

Labour previously branded the hi-tech refurbishment a “vanity project”.

The briefing room will host future Government coronavirus press briefings as of Monday, when Boris Johnson addresses the nation about the next stage of lockdown easing.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will lead the first Covid press conference on Monday from No 9 Downing Street
Prime Minister Boris Johnson will lead the first Covid press conference on Monday from No 9 Downing Street (Hannah McKay/PA)

On March 29, further restrictions will be lifted, with the “stay home” guidance removed and limited contact between different households permitted, along with many outdoor activities and sports.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman told reporters: “Work on the briefing room in No 9 Downing Street is now complete, so going forward all future coronavirus press conferences will take place over in No 9.

Allegra Stratton

“They will begin on Monday when the Prime Minister does a press conference in there.”

RelatedPosts

P&O Ferries owner makes record profits after ‘shameless’ sackings

Finland’s dancing PM hits out at leak of ‘private’ party footage

US judges who sent kids to private jails ordered to pay out MILLIONS

Energy bills to SOAR in October as experts make final prediction

Mr Johnson’s press secretary Allegra Stratton said the Government still planned to go ahead with daily televised briefings – the concept that was the main driver behind creating the new media space.

Leaked images have shed light on what the No 9 press briefing room looks like
Leaked images have shed light on what the No 9 press briefing room looks like (ITV News)

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 civil servants.

Milestones

But under proposals set out in July, an afternoon session will be filmed at 9 Downing Street, 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.

Ms Stratton said: “Yes, we are (intending to go ahead with the televised briefings) but we just don’t know yet when.

“It is all about hitting milestones in the road map.”

Reactions

1.

So we gave ourselves a Supreme Court, turned ministries into departments, gave the army a ‘Ranger’ battalion and now have a lovely blue press briefing room. What other acts of slobbering imitation can we stoop to?

— Hugh Laurie (@hughlaurie) March 21, 2021

2.

“It’s a metaphor for an entire year of Covid incompetence”

Journalist Ian Hislop says it’s “a ridiculous amount of money” to spend £2.6 million on a briefing room while granting NHS workers a 1% pay rise. #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/3qcEbhjE63

— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) March 18, 2021

3.

Always a joy to watch Ian Hislop make politicians look like dorks on #bbcqt

— Bazz (@BazzFlashman) March 18, 2021

4.

Inside the Tory’s press briefing room (according to @mortenmorland).

The renovation of Downing Street’s new White House-style press briefing room cost £2.6 million. Read more: https://t.co/zoq8H2mhYw pic.twitter.com/FcTjOAKXDr

— The Times (@thetimes) March 19, 2021

5.

If the gov needed to spend £2.6m on a briefing room so they can communicate with the public, how have they been able to do all these briefings over the past year? https://t.co/LbRGuh8aQI

— Gareth Howe (@MontyMole) March 18, 2021

6.

"Downing Street's new press briefing room to open next week"

Interior design by Ms C. Symonds pic.twitter.com/CFkPPpANmj

— Polemic Paine (@PolemicTMM) March 25, 2021

Related: David Cameron being investigated for breaking lobbying law he introduced

Since you are here

Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.

Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.

Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.

If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.

To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.

The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.

The shop can be found here.

You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending on TLE

  • All
  • trending
Abdollah

‘Rescue us’: Afghan teacher begs UK to help him escape Taliban

CHOMSKY: “If Corbyn had been elected, Britain would be pursuing a much more sane course”

What If We Got Rid Of Prisons?

More from TLE

Video – EU quotes Margaret Thatcher in plea for UK Government to honour treaty agreements

VIDEO – Jeremy Hunt Presented With His ‘Dick Of The Year Award’

A stalker obsessed with BBC Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis who bombarded her with creepy letters is jailed for more than three years

Cocktails In The City To Return To London In July

Video – Disgruntled worker went on rampage smashing employers £100,000 Range Rover and a truck

Why am I supporting Corbyn? It’s my dad running the Labour Party

Trump calls anti-racism training divisive, anti-American propaganda

Ukrainian president suing BBC over claims its reports inferred he authorised “seriously corrupt” £300,000 payment to meet Trump

14-year-old goalkeeper tragically dies after “collision” in football match

Former Tory MP loses appeal against two-year jail term for sexual assault

JOBS

FIND MORE JOBS

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.