Henry vacuum photobombs unveiling of £2.6 million government media room

Writing on the lectern reading 'Downing Street' is also obscured by a government seal, so all you can actually read is 'DOW REET'.

The government has spent £2.6 million on a new briefing room for the media, with pictures revealed for the first time.

Some might think that the room used for press conferences over the past year of coronavirus was perfectly serviceable, but now we have a shiny new one in bright Tory blue, with four flags as a backdrop.

As well as the efforts at grandeur, it is also definitely vacuumed – as evidenced by the cute little Henry vacuum cleaner who snuck into the photos.

People have noticed that it kind of ruins the effect Downing Street might have been going for.

The room will be used by new press secretary Allegra Stratton to take questions from the press, White House style.

But despite the hefty price tag, it still seems as though they could have got better advice on the design and first images.

Writing on the lectern reading ‘Downing Street’ is obscured by a government seal, so all you can actually read is ‘DOW REET’.

Come on; we could have advised against that for free.

ITV revealed the first images today of the room in No 9 Downing Street, which also includes cameras and rows of chairs for journalists for the price tag.

Labour said ‘we were expecting something a bit more impressive’ given the sums spent on the long-delayed project.

The images emerged as the HuffPost website reported that the renovations were carried out by Megahertz, a company owned by a Moscow-based firm that has carried out technical work for state-controlled broadcaster Russia Today.

Ms Stratton, a former journalist, said there were ‘absolutely not’ any security concerns, adding: ‘Clearly, in a contract like that we take all the necessary measures to ensure the highest standards of security.’

But shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Rachel Reeves said ‘serious questions’ were being raised about who is getting ‘rushed-through’ Government contracts.

She added: ‘Given how much money Boris Johnson has thrown at his latest vanity project, we were expecting something a bit more impressive.

The revelation came as Mr Johnson faced pressure over the funding of a separate revamp of his official residence.

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.

A Government spokesman said spending on the briefing room was in the public interest.

‘The facilities within 9 Downing Street will be used for daily broadcasting by a number of news organisations requiring one-off capital works, including audio-visual equipment, internet infrastructure, electrical works and lighting,’ the spokesman said.

‘This spending is in the public interest as the new broadcasting of lobby briefings will increase public accountability and transparency of this Government now and in the future.

‘Such spending on maintenance and technical facilities reflects that 9 Downing Street (the Privy Council Office) is a Grade 1 listed building.’

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