Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Prime Minister moves in – to No 11

Andy McSmith
Thursday 27 May 2010 19:00 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Everybody remembers the day they moved into a new house, and how they had to make do on the first night, because the bed linen had not been unpacked and the previous occupants had taken all the curtains. But it was probably not quite like that for David and Samantha Cameron and their two young children yesterday.

It had been two weeks since the old tenants moved out of the flat above 11 Downing Street taking all their belongings, including a large Wendy House. Workmen have since been in, making sure it is fit for a Prime Minister and his family.

Like his two predecessors, Mr Cameron is taking the No 11 flat, because it is bigger and more child-friendly than the one over No 10. However it is thought that he will initially move into the No 10 flat until the rooms at No 11 are ready.

The Camerons now face a dilemma about what to do with their vacated £2.5m home in Notting Hill. They could sell – but the Blairs did that in 1997, and lost out on a decade of rising property prices. Or they could rent, but Norman Lamont did that when he was Chancellor, only to learn from a newspaper that his basement was occupied by someone who advertised her services as "Miss Whiplash".

Asked what he would do yesterday, Mr Cameron simply told the BBC: "I certainly won't be renting to Miss Whiplash."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in