Jeremy Corbyn 'could snub Downing Street' in favour of Islington home if he becomes PM
2 min read
Jeremy Corbyn could refuse to take up residence in 10 Downing Street if he becomes Prime Minister, it has been reported.
According to the Mail on Sunday, Whitehall officials have been told that the Labour leader would prefer to use Number 10 as an office while continuing to live in his longstanding North London residence.
A source told the paper: "He just doesn’t want to live above the shop, even though he’s being told he will probably have to."
While the move could prove a security headache for the police, the Mail on Sunday claims that the Labour leader is keen not to become associated with the "airs and graces" of life in Downing Street.
A source told the paper: "I think his wife Laura would also prefer not to move to Downing Street. It is a bit like living in a goldfish bowl."
The Mail on Sunday cites a source close to Mr Corbyn who said the leader had been "openly discussing" staying on in his Islington home.
A friend of Mr Corbyn also downplayed the idea that the Labour leader could move into the official prime ministerial residence at Chequers if he landed the top job.
"The furthest he’ll probably want to go into the countryside is his allotment shed in deepest North London," they said.
During his time as Prime Minister, Tony Blair swapped 10 Downing Street for the more spacious 11 Downing Street to bring up his family.
His then-chancellor Gordon Brown instead occupied the official prime ministerial residence.
Labour told the Mail on Sunday that speculation about Mr Corbyn's living arrangements was "Westminster village tittle-tattle".
And a source said: "We are fully focused on building support from the British people for a Labour government and we aren’t taking anything for granted."
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