A grace and favour home is a residential property owned by a monarch by virtue of their position as head of state and leased rent-free to persons as part of an employment package or in gratitude for past services rendered.
It is possible that the term crept into English through the writings of Niccolo Machiavelli, who wrote of advisors who 'ministri per grazia e concessione’ - which has been translated as 'ministered through grace and favour'.
In the United Kingdom, these homes are owned by The Crown and, in modern times, are often within the gift of the Prime Minister. Most of these properties are taxed as a 'benefit in kind', although this status does not apply to 10 Downing Street or any home granted for security purposes, such as the residence of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.[1] They are at times granted to senior politicians: for example, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott resided in a grace-and-favour home in Dorneywood until the end of May 2006.[2][3]
Examples
Examples of British 'grace and favour' homes include[4] [5]:
- 10 Downing Street, London - Official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury (who is also the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom)
- 11 Downing Street, London - Official residence of the Second Lord of the Treasury (who is also the Chancellor of the Exchequer)
- Chequers, Buckinghamshire - The Prime Minister's official country retreat
- Dorneywood, Buckinghamshire - Often used as a residence for the Deputy Prime Minister, but previously occupied by a number of Cabinet ministers.
- Admiralty House, London - Contains three flats, often given to senior Cabinet ministers.
- Chevening, Kent - Often used by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
- 1 Carlton Gardens, London - Often used as the official residence of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
- Palace of Westminster, London - The Houses of Parliament themselves contain a number of official flats, typically occupied by the Speaker of the House of Commons and the Lord Chancellor.
- Hillsborough Castle, County Down - The residence of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when in Northern Ireland.
- Bute House, St Andrew's Square, Edinburgh - The residence of the First Minister of Scotland.
References
- ^ BBC NEWS | Politics | What are grace-and-favour homes?
- ^ Plotters move to oust Blair | Special Reports | Guardian Unlimited Politics
- ^ BBC NEWS | Politics | Critics welcome Dorneywood move
- ^ BBC NEWS | Politics | What are grace-and-favour homes?
- ^ House of Commons - Ministerial residences
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