Fury as Home Office officials spent more than £10k of taxpayer money on ONE meal at ‘extravagant’ London restaurant
Home Office civil servants have come under fire for spending more than £10,000 of taxpayers’ money on a lavish dinner at one of London’s most exclusive restaurants.
The November gathering at Searcys restaurant in The Gherkin skyscraper cost £10,350, according to government credit card records.
Civil servants received special permission to use the government’s Procurement Card for the event, which hosted Italian officials.
The “outrageous” expenditure has drawn sharp criticism from watchdogs, who say there is “no excuse” for such extravagance with public funds.
The dinner brought together 45 UK and Italian officials for what was described as a “reception and dinner” at the prestigious venue.
The gathering was organised by a Home Office research and strategy team seeking to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.
The meeting comes as UK officials have been looking to emulate Italy’s border control measures, with Italy reporting a 62 per cent drop in illegal migration in the first seven months of 2024.
Searcys, which occupies the top three floors of the 180m-tall Gherkin, offers fine dining with set menus starting at £49 for two courses.
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A Home Office spokesman defended the expenditure, stating: “The event required a secure venue and contributed to the development of crucial agreements to enhance information sharing.”
However, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, condemned the spending as excessive.
He said: “There can be no excuse for this outrageous extravagance.
“Whoever approved this needs to be given a good dressing-down.”
The venue is known for hosting corporate events and private functions, including weddings, and is available for public bookings.
The restaurant boasts panoramic 360-degree views across London’s skyline from its position on level 40 of The Gherkin.
The venue spans the top three floors of the iconic building, making it one of London’s most elevated dining experiences.
While open to public bookings, Searcys has established itself as a prestigious location for high-profile corporate events and private functions.