Johnson forced to share Chevening
Foreign Secretary was not warned that his fellow Brexiteers Fox and Davis will be moving in too
‘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’
BORIS JOHNSON has been denied sole use of a grace and favour house linked to his job as Foreign Secretary without being informed by Downing Street, The Daily Telegraph understands.
The Foreign Secretary will have to arrange visits to Chevening House to fit in with those made by Liam Fox and David Davis under an arrangement last used during the Coalition government. The three men all supported the UK’s exit from the EU.
Typically the residence in Kent would be used solely by the Foreign Secretary but Mr Johnson, who was in Brussels yesterday for meetings with his EU counterparts, was not informed of the new arrangement before the announcement by Downing Street.
Theresa May’s spokeswoman said the decision reflects the fact that all three men will entertain foreign ministers and heads of state and must have somewhere suitable to do so. However, the move could be regarded by some as a snub to Mr Johnson.
The last time the residence was shared was when Nick Clegg was deputy prime minister in the Coalition government.
A spokeswoman for the Prime Minister 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.”
Mr Davis, the Secretary of State for Exiting the EU, was also not told he would be free to use the 115-room estate in Kent. He told the Telegraph: “I am happy to be sharing it, it’s more than I expected frankly. I’ve been before and it’s a lovely place.”
Mr Johnson is reported to be happy with the arrangement, while Mr Fox was unavailable for comment.
During the Coalition government, Mr Clegg and Mr Hague shared the estate but never stayed there at the same time. Instead the two men arranged their stays with the staff at Chevening to ensure there was no overlap.
Chevening, like other Government grace and favour homes, is maintained by a trust and only entertainment costs are paid for by the state. It has been used by Government ministers since the 1980s, most often to entertain foreign guests.
It was entrusted to the Government in 1967 by the seventh Earl of Stanhope on the condition that it would be used by the Prime Minister, a Cabinet Minister or a descendant of King George VI.
Mrs May has ultimate power over which of her Cabinet ministers can use the home for entertaining guests, but it has traditionally been occupied by the sitting Foreign Secretary.
A spokeswoman also confirmed that Mrs May will live in the flat above Number 11 Downing Street as the Cameron family did, while Philip Hammond the Chancellor will live in the flat above Number 10.
Mr Hammond will have exclusive use of Dorney Wood, another grace and favour residence, while Mr Johnson will be free to use 1 Carlton Gardens – the Foreign Secretary’s London residence.
It is understood the former mayor of London is yet to decide whether he will move his family into the property or use it only for meetings and entertainingd.
The Prime Minister will retain exclusive use of Chequers in Buckinghamshire.