So which mansion will be Angela Rayner's new second home? Sir Keir Starmer faces dilemma over which grace-and-favour perk to bestow on deputy prime minister
- Dorneywood in Buckinghamshire has traditionally been used by the Chancellor
- Chevening, a 115-room mansion in Kent, is given to the Foreign Secretary
- One option might be for Rachel Reeves and Angela Rayner to share a property
Once Sir Keir Starmer has taken the easy decisions, such as who to put in his Cabinet, it will be time for the hard stuff – like which grace-and-favour perk to bestow on Angela Rayner.
The main prizes in the Prime Minister's gift are Dorneywood, the 18th century house in Buckinghamshire traditionally used by the Chancellor, and Chevening, a 115-room mansion in Kent which tradition suggests would go to Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
But complicating the picture is Ms Rayner. Her predecessor as Labour Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, was allowed to use Dorneywood when Tony Blair was in No 10 because his Chancellor, Gordon Brown, felt uncomfortable with the country squire image.
Prescott was less bothered, famously being photographed playing croquet in its grounds when supposedly running the country in Mr Blair's absence.
One option would be for Rayner and Chancellor Rachel Reeves to share Dorneywood or Chevening on alternating weekends.
Once Sir Keir Starmer has taken the easy decisions, such as who to put in his Cabinet, it will be time for the hard stuff – like which grace-and-favour perk to bestow on Angela Rayner
Dorneywood, an 18th century house in Buckinghamshire traditionally used by the Chancellor, could be shared by Rachel Reeves and Angela Rayner
Angela Rayner's predecessor as Labour Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, was allowed to use Dorneywood when Tony Blair was in No 10 because his Chancellor, Gordon Brown, felt uncomfortable with the country squire image
When Nick Clegg was Deputy Prime Minister, he shared Chevening in Kent with Foreign Secretary William Hague and Liz Truss shared it while Foreign Secretary with Dominic Raab
Like his predecessors, Sir Keir will have the use of Grade I-listed Chequers in Buckinghamshire
The women both attended their first Cabinet yesterday: Reeves in Libby Sussex aubergine jacket and trousers, priced £240 and £160, and Rayner in an orange £227 Me + Em dress.
When Nick Clegg was Deputy Prime Minister, he shared Chevening with Foreign Secretary William Hague.
And when Liz Truss was Boris Johnson's Foreign Secretary, she had to share it with Dominic Raab, her predecessor who became Deputy PM.
Ms Truss later likened it to 'an exalted student flat-share'.
Like his predecessors, Sir Keir will have the use of Grade I-listed Chequers in Buckinghamshire.
A Labour spokesman said no decision had yet been reached on the other grace-and-favour houses.
