The building was gifted to Robert Walpole, widely regarded as Britain’s first prime minister, by King George III in 1732.
Richard Walker, the executive chairman of supermarket chain Iceland and a former adviser to Sir Keir Starmer, told the Financial Times on Friday that Number 10 was no longer “fit for purpose.”
He said: “I think we should turn it into residences, or a museum. It’s a national treasure. It’s amazing. But it’s ridiculous.
“It’s just a Stuart-era building, not fit for purpose. It has tiny, tiny meeting rooms, all on different levels. There are hazards.”
Matthew Lyons, who spearheaded Sir Keir’s communications operation, posted on LinkedIn that “Lord Walker is 100% right.”
He added that staff were “deeply envious” of other government departments and described Number 10 as a “gloomy, mice-infested, bomb-curtained rabbit warren.”
Lyons confirmed: “Moving out was something that was discussed when I was in 10 Downing Street.”
