DOWNING STREET

 

See Also: THE RUTHLESS REVEREND; WHITEHALL

Downing Street was built for Sir George Downing 1st Bt., who was the Secretary of the Treasury from 1667 to 1671.

 

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Joe Haines

Joe Haines served as Harold Wilson's press secretary from 1969 to 1976. Haines believed that Marcia Williams fostered the premier's tendency to believe that there were conspiracies against him.

 

No. 10 Downing Street

In 1732 King George II offered No. 10 Downing Street as a personal gift to his then 1st Lord of the Treasury (Prime Minister) Sir Robert Walpole. The politician appreciated the jaded interpretation that some backbench M.P.s might choose to make of such an instance of royal generosity. As a consequence, he accepted the gift on condition that the house was given to him in his official capacity and not in his private one. As a consequence, when the knight fell from power in 1742 he left the house for his successors as premier to occupy.

The street fa ade of No. 10 belies what is in reality a small office block, housing the Prime Minister's Private Office. Some Prime Ministers have used the building purely as a place of work, preferring to continue to reside in their own grander townhouses.

There are two front doors to No. 10. This means that one can be maintained while the other one is in use. Neither of them has a keyhole. The portal is always opened from within.

Location: 10 Downing Street, SW1A 2AA (orange, red)

5 Arlington Street, SW1A 1RA. Walpole's own townhouse. (blue, yellow)

See Also: CATS Humphrey; ROYALTY The Constitution, The Prime Minister and The Sovereign; TOWNHOUSES

Website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/prime-ministers-office-10-downing-street

 

No. 11 Downing Street

No. 11 Downing Street is the official residence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer (the finance minister). Until the early 19thC a number of Prime Ministers were both First Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor. After 1835 it became the usual practice for the two offices to be held separately from one another.

Since the mid-19thC Chancellors have taken their Budget speeches to the House of Commons in the Budget box, a battered wood and leather case that is believed to have been made for the Liberal politician William Gladstone. On the morning of each Budget it is customary for the Chancellor to appear upon the steps of No. 11 bearing the case. This is held up by the politician. At the official's side stands her/his spouse. The practice started following the Chancellorship of the Conservative politician George Ward Hunt. He presented his only Commons Budget Speech in 1869. When he rose to address the Chamber he realised that he had left his speech at home.

It is customary for the Chancellor to have an alcoholic drink while s/he makes the Budget speech. However, some refrain from doing so and instead opt for a non-alcoholic refreshment.

As a residence, 11 is physically far more spacious than No. 10. Whereas the Prime Minister's private quarters are confined to a flat at the top of No. 10, 11 is still a townhouse.

Location: 11 Downing Street, SW1A 2AB (orange, grey)

See Also: THE HOUSE OF COMMONS Money Bills; WHITEHALL DEPARTMENT The Treasury

Website: www.gov.uk/government/history/11-downing-street

 

The Downing Street Gates

The Downing Street gates were erected in 1990. Before then it had been possible for members of the public to walk into the street. Later than year Margaret Thatcher was ousted from power by her own party.

Early the following year her successor as prime minister, John Major, was presiding over a weekly Cabinet meeting when the members of an I.R.A cell drove a lorry into Horse Guards Parade. From there they launched a series of mortars towards No. 10 Downing Street. One of these exploded in No. 10 s garden. The house's staff regarded the incident as being an annoyance .

Location: Downing Street, SW1A 2AA (orange, blue)

See Also: CATS The Ousting of Thatcher; STREET FURNITURE Gates1

1. It is to be noted that the Gates do not have a cat flap.

David Backhouse 2024