Taxpayers have funded nearly £50,000 to establish the Prime Minister's No. 10 North office in Manchester, according to figures released by the Cabinet Office.
The expenditure includes just under £49,000 for setting up the office at Heron House. Of this total, more than £10,000 was allocated for branding the premises, nearly £2,000 for crockery, and almost £1,000 for a replica of the iconic Downing Street door.
Additional costs detailed in the figures include nearly £20,000 for IT infrastructure, approximately £9,000 for office space improvements, over £6,000 for events equipment, lighting, and flagpoles, and close to £1,000 for the relocation of 24 meeting chairs.
These figures were disclosed in response to a Freedom of Information request submitted by the website Reason. The Cabinet Office, however, did not release information on staff costs, ministerial travel, security expenses, or ongoing operational expenditures for the No. 10 North initiative.
The TaxPayers' Alliance criticized the spending, with campaigns director William Yarwood stating that the costs for branding, shipping replica doors, and moving furniture constitute public money regardless of the departmental budget from which they are drawn. He described No. 10 North as a "gimmick dressed up as reform" that taxpayers should not have to fund.
Previous warnings have indicated that tens of millions of pounds in taxpayer money may be required for security at No. 10 North. Separately, it was reported that the top civil servant managing the office is incurring approximately £800 in weekly commuting costs from London, where they reside in a townhouse valued at £2.2 million.
A government spokesperson asserted that No. 10 North is intended to drive growth nationwide by collaborating with mayors and local governments to increase spending in their respective areas. The spokesperson also stated that the costs associated with establishing and operating the office are covered by existing Cabinet Office budgets, incurring no additional expense to the taxpayer.