Keir Starmer spent a further £8,546 of taxpayers' money refurbishing his Downing Street flat in the 2025-26 financial year, shortly before being forced out as prime minister following a backbench rebellion. The spending, revealed in the Cabinet Office's latest accounts, adds to almost £30,000 spent on the grace-and-favour apartment above No11 during his first year in office, and has drawn attention given how briefly he continued to occupy the residence afterwards.

Starmer and his family moved into the No11 flat, traditionally favoured by prime ministers for its larger size, after Labour's election victory in July 2024. In 2024-25 the Cabinet Office recorded £14,319.20 on refurbishment and £15,442.47 on furniture, while the latest £8,546 covered further "routine redecoration and modernisation" works. Prime ministers and chancellors receive an annual allowance of up to £30,000 towards upkeep of the residences, alongside a capped "benefit in kind" of roughly £3,000 covering utility bills. Downing Street said the accounts were published transparently each year and that the listed buildings must be maintained to an appropriate standard.