Home Office Faces Backlash Over £10,000 Gherkin Dinner Spend

The Home Office has come under fire for allegedly spending £10,000 of taxpayers’ money on a lavish dinner at Searcys, the exclusive restaurant on the 40th floor of London’s iconic Gherkin. The event, reportedly attended by 45 civil servants and Italian counterparts, took place in November 2024 and was allegedly charged to the government’s Procurement Card. Critics claim the gathering raises questions about the appropriate use of public funds.

Searcys, known for its fine dining and stunning 360-degree views of London, offers a set menu starting at £49 for two courses. Guests can indulge in dishes like black truffle risotto and rump steak. According to reports, the Home Office spent £10,350 on the event, though this has not been independently verified as the government’s transaction data for November 2024 has yet to be published.

A Home Office spokesperson defended the expenditure, stating the dinner was held to honour Italy’s contribution to the international security agenda during its G7 presidency. The spokesperson explained that the event, which included senior Italian security officials, was essential for advancing agreements on tackling people smuggling, organised immigration crime, and drug trafficking.

John O’Connell, from the Tax-Payers’ Alliance, strongly criticised the expenditure, labelling it as “outrageous extravagance” and calling for accountability from those who approved the spending.

The Home Office’s collaboration with Italy comes as the UK government, under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, seeks to emulate Italy’s border control measures. In 2024, Italy reported a 62% drop in illegal migration during the first seven months of the year. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has highlighted the importance of international partnerships to deter illegal crossings and dismantle smuggling networks.

As the story unfolds, many are questioning whether the event at Searcys was justified or an unnecessary burden on taxpayers.

Guidelines on the proper use of government Procurement Cards can be found on the official UK Government website.

For further updates on this story and insights into UK government affairs, visit EyeOnLondon.

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