PREMIER VOTED AGAINST NO 10

Daily Record

PREMIER VOTED AGAINST NO 10

Jan 4 2005

CALLAGHAN

JAMES Callaghan fought against moving into Downing Street after becoming Prime Minister in 1976.

He complained taking up residence at No 10 would cause 'discomfort' to his wife Audrey.

Files released today reveal he tried to stay at No 1 Carlton Gardens, his official London home as Foreign Secretary.

He was so set against living in Downing Street he threatened to use his own London flat instead.

His stand alarmed civil servants.

Sir Michael Palliser, a senior Foreign Office official, wrote to his counterparts in the PM's office over the issue.

He said he had to intervene for the sake of future foreign secretaries. He wrote: 'Since Ernest Bevin moved into No 1 Carlton Gardens in 1945, the house has been occupied by successive foreign secretaries, apart from the period during which it was under restoration.'

Ken Stowe, principal private secretary at No 10, was sympathetic.

He replied, saying he had tackled Callaghan about the issue.

But it seemed Callaghan was unmoved.

Stowe wrote: 'Since he was adamant that he was not prepared to inflict upon his wife the discomforts of living in No 10, then he would have to live somewhere else and, if driven to it, would elect to stay in his present flat in Kennington Park Road.

'I felt bound to say this was not sensible, operationally and for security purposes.'

How Callaghan was persuaded to move to No 10 is not recorded in the file.

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