The nerve centre of the British state, 10 Downing Street, is fantastically ill-suited to the needs of a modern Prime Minister and to the interests of the country.

An excellent piece by Politico last week lifted the lid on what it’s actually like to work in this rather dilapidated Georgian townhouse, with one former No 10 official saying the building is “the perfect metaphor for the state of Britain… it’s all built on top of itself, full of sticking plasters” with “doors that go to nowhere.”

The complaints from former and current staff are endless, covering everything from the poor phone signal to the shabby carpets and lack of showers. One person compared it to “a three-start Bournemouth hotel.” These might sound like mere workplace grumbles, but the situation is serious. Firstly, fraying curtains and........

© City A.M.