Brexit Towers! Boris, Davis and Fox are forced to share grace and favour mansion
THEY have been labelled the Three Brexiteers. And when it comes to official residences Boris Johnson, David Davis and Liam Fox are about to find out it is definitely ‘one for all’.
For they will have to share use of the graceand-favour mansion normally put at the sole disposal of the foreign secretary, Theresa May announced yesterday. As a result, the historic Grade I-listed Chevening House is already being dubbed Brexit Towers.
Downing Street says that to reflect their status in Cabinet, Brexit Secretary Mr Davis and International Trade Secretary Mr Fox will have the same rights of access to the 115-room mansion near Sevenoaks in Kent as Foreign Secretary Mr Johnson. All three will be able to use it to wine and dine guests while negotiating Britain’s exit from the EU.
Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron likened the situation to the sitcom Fawlty Towers, saying: ‘The three Brexiteers sharing Chevening is a bit like Brexit Towers.
‘The next question is which of the trio is going to mention the war – and will they get away with it – and is David Davis going to make Manuel get a visa.’
Built in the 1620s, reputedly to a design by Inigo Jones, Chevening is surrounded by a 3,500-acre estate with lake and maze. It was bequeathed to the nation on the death of Lord Stanhope in 1967, as a residence for a senior government minister or a royal.
Prince Charles had use of Chevening for six years in the 1970s but did not live there. Since 1980, it has been the home of foreign secretaries. However, during the Coalition government both William Hague and his successor Philip Hammond had to share it with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.
Although Mr Johnson will also have use of a second grace and favour home in White- hall, his shock promotion has hit him in the pocket. It has led to him giving up the newspaper column that was earning him around £275,000 a year and has forced the delay of a book he was writing on Shakespeare.
While there has been speculation over who is the most senior of the Three Brexiteers, who all report directly to Mrs May, an official list published yesterday ranks Mr Johnson fourth in seniority behind the Prime Minister, the Chancellor and the Home Secretary, with Mr Davis in eighth and Mr Fox ninth.
No 10 has yet to say who will take Prime Minister’s Questions if Mrs May is absent.