Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has revealed the surprising reason why one of the world's most famous addresses will likely never undergo a complete renovation. The ex-Labour leader, who served from 2007 to 2010, claims that no sitting Prime Minister is willing to vacate Number 10 for the years required, fearing they may not be in power to return.
The Five-Year Problem No PM Wants to Face
Speaking on Ruthie Rogers' Table 4 podcast, Brown painted a vivid picture of the dilemma faced by every new occupant of Downing Street. Shortly after moving in, they are approached by civil servants with a stark warning: the centuries-old building is in desperate need of major repair and refurbishment. The critical question from the Prime Minister is always about timing.
"And then you say, 'well, how long is it going to take?'," Brown explained, recounting the typical exchange. "And the guy said, well, you'll have to be out of Downing Street for at least five years."
He stated bluntly that no prime minister is going to agree to that, simply because the turbulent nature of British politics means they cannot guarantee they will still be in office half a decade later. The prospect of approving a project that would see them exiled to another official residence, with no certainty of a return, is politically unthinkable.
A Fate That Even Liz Truss Escaped
Brown used a pointed example to illustrate his case. He revealed that his short-lived successor, Liz Truss, had actually agreed to the refurbishment plan during her brief 49-day tenure in 2022. Her rapid departure from office meant the plans were swiftly abandoned.
"Liz Truss, she'd agreed to it. She was only there for a few days!" Brown noted. The implication is clear: the instability at the top of government makes long-term planning for the prime ministerial home virtually impossible.
Reflecting on his own experience, Brown conceded that had he approved the works during his premiership, he would not have been in power to see them completed or to move back in. This reality, he argues, is why a full-scale renovation of the Downing Street complex is destined to remain in the 'too difficult' box.
More Than Just Cosmetic Issues
Beyond the structural concerns, Brown offered other glimpses into life inside Number 10. He highlighted that there are no full-time chefs in the Downing Street kitchen, a detail that may surprise many. Other parts of the historic building are also in significant need of improvement and modernisation.
During the wide-ranging podcast interview, Brown also reflected on his personal history. He spoke about his childhood in Scotland, growing up in poverty and surviving on basic meals like porridge and omelettes during wartime shortages.
In a lighter anecdote, he described his first taste of alcohol as a teenager, which occurred in unusual circumstances. After being injured in a rugby scrum at school—an incident that later led to him losing sight in his left eye while at Edinburgh University—the 16-year-old Brown was in hospital.
"At eight o'clock every evening, a trolley came round, and they offered you drinks. Alcoholic drinks," he recalled. "I was 16, and you would be offered Guinness, you'd be offered wine, you'd be offered lager, and you could take what you wanted. I knew the health service was free, but free beer... that's my early years."
The full interview, providing a unique blend of political insight and personal memoir from the former Prime Minister, is available on the latest episode of Ruthie’s Table 4 podcast.
