Taxpayers spent £2.6m on constructing a new room for televised briefings by the government. Due to a series of foreseeable cock-ups and changes of mind, the room/studio has never been used for its original purpose.
At least, now, taxpayers have had some value for money in entertainment terms.
A mole has leaked video footage from inside the briefing room shot a year ago. It shows Allegra Stratton, then communications spokesperson, joking and laughing when asked by a colleague whether there had been a party in Number 10 that broke the rules. Those are the rules that restricted relatives from attending the death beds and funerals of their loved ones. When the little people – we taxpayers – were banned from having a drink with friends and families the Number 10 crowd were, it seems, cavorting with secret Santa in Downing Street, imbibing and then treating it all as a joke.
ITV has the video exclusive.
This video is the communications equivalent of a bomb being detonated under Number 10.