Home Office staff spend £10,000 of taxpayer money on dinner at swanky London restaurant

Civil servants rack up bill at The Gherkin's Searcys

Home Office staff recently came under fire for spending £10,000 of taxpayer money on a dinner at the upscale Searcys at The Gherkin in London. The extravagant event was held for Italian counterparts, with the bill being footed by the Government Procurement Card.

Outrage over "outrageous extravagance"

Campaigners criticized the spending, calling it "outrageous extravagance" that could not be justified, especially at a time when the government claims to be facing financial constraints. The £10,350 bill was disclosed in a government credit card spending report.

Event vital for UK-Italian cooperation

The event, organized by a research and strategy team, was described as a "reception and dinner" for approximately 45 officials attending a UK-Italian meeting. The Home Office stated that the event was crucial for efforts to combat Channel boat crossings.

Ministers unaware of the spending

Interestingly, Home Office ministers were reportedly not present at the dinner and were unaware of the significant expenditure. The department is now considering implementing a sign-off process for future hospitality costs to avoid similar incidents.

Response from Tax-Payers' Alliance

John O’Connell from the Tax-Payers’ Alliance condemned the lavish spending, stating that there was no excuse for such extravagance and calling for accountability for those responsible for approving the expense.

Home Office justification

In response to the criticism, the Home Office defended the event, stating that it was necessary for securing a venue that met security requirements and facilitated crucial agreements to enhance information sharing between the UK and Italy.