Understanding the difference between an office and a museum

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Just as ‘retaining the pound’ has more of an emotional appeal than a rational one, the same is true of certain historical buildings. It emerged yesterday that some staff in Downing Street (with or without the knowledge of their then master, Keir Starmer) have been thinking about moving the office staff out of the Number 10 rabbit warren and into an open-plan office round the corner. The idea of abandoning three converted and merged dwelling houses comprising more than 100 separate rooms which have been used as the Prime Ministerial residence for almost 300 years seems to be something of a touchy subject, from the tone of the report.

The sensitivity is on a par with the dithering over the refurbishment of the Palace of Westminster, a project which will take a decaying building utterly unfit for purpose and turn it into a less-decaying building which is equally unfit for purpose, in this case for anything up to a mere £40 billion over 61 years. Some even seem to see it as a bargain. There is, of course, merit in preserving architectural heritage, and in celebrating the history of buildings (although there are elements of the history of both that some of us might prefer not to celebrate).

But preserving heritage does not have to mean forcing people to work in unsuitable accommodation, nor – in the case of the Prime Minister – to live in a flat which (s)he would probably never have chosen as a home were it not for the job. There is no particular reason why the PM has to live above the shop. Tradition and history have their place in society, and are part of what makes us what we are – but we don’t have to be their prisoners. It may be true that there are some decisions made in Downing Street where it might be advantageous for them to be hindered and hampered by poor working conditions, but that’s a cynical view; on the whole, I’d prefer to have a government staffed by people who have the facilities and accommodation they need to be effective and efficient.

So, an agenda to give traditionalist politicians a heart attack: turn Downing Street into a Museum, turn the Palace of Westminster into a tourist attraction, and build a new parliament somewhere else – maybe not even in London. One with enough seats for all the members would be a good start.