IT’s already been dubbed “Brexit Towers” after No 10 confirmed that Chevening, the 17th century manor house in Kent, will be shared as a grace and favour residence by the three Brexiteers – Boris Johnson, David Davis and Liam Fox.
Chevening has been the foreign secretary’s official country residence since the 1980s and has been used to host international visitors. But under the previous Coalition government, the then foreign secretary William Hague was forced to share it with Nick Clegg, the former Deputy Prime Minister.
It is expected that the 115-room mansion will now be used by Mr Johnson, Brexit Secretary Mr Davis and International Trade Secretary Dr Fox as and when they have foreign dignitaries to entertain.
But suspicions will be raised that “Brexit Towers” will become the unofficial headquarters of the Brexit ministers, keen to ensure that Theresa May, who backed Remain in the referendum, keeps to her pledge that “Brexit means Brexit”.
Meantime, the Prime Minister will continue with the recent tradition established by Tony Blair and continued by Gordon Brown and David Cameron of living in the flat above 11 Downing Street while the chancellor, Philip Hammond, moves into the smaller flat above No 10.
Mrs May has not yet spent the night at Downing Street as PM but is expected to move in shortly.
Mr Blair opted for the larger Number 11 flat because he needed room for his young family. Mrs May's arrival means that for the first time since 1997 neither the PM nor Chancellor has young children to accommodate in the historic buildings.
Mr Hammond will have use of Dorneywood in Buckinghamshire, which has been a country retreat for ministers since the 1940s.
It has usually been occupied by chancellors but has also been used by other senior members of the government, including Lord Prescott, the former Deputy Prime Minister, who was famously photographed playing croquet on its lawn.
Mr Johnson will also have use of 1 Carlton Gardens, off the Mall and near to Buckingham Palace, as his official London residence.
Asked why Mrs May had decided the foreign secretary should share his country retreat with two colleagues, the PM's spokeswoman said: "It reflects the fact that all those secretaries of state will as part of their work be meeting and engaging with and hosting foreign visitors and leaders and it will provide an opportunity to do that."
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