European Commission moves into old Tory offices
The former offices of the Conservative Party in London’s Smith Square have been taken over by the European Commission.
Around 60 EU workers will be based in the offices which will also represent the European Parliament. The European Commission purchased the property, now renamed as Europe House, for £20million.
The building was home to the Conservative Party from 1958 until 2004 and it was from there that Margaret Thatcher’s three election victories were plotted.
She famously said “No! No! No!” to Europe leading the influential Conservative Home website to suggest the EU are “cocking a snook at Conservative eurosceptics by buying the former Tory HQ.”
Foreign Secretary, William Hague, who announced his resignation as party leader outside the building following the 2001 General Election, attended the opening of Europe House on Monday, prompting his opposite number, Yvette Cooper, to tease him in the House of Commons yesterday:
“Last night, he went back to Smith square, to the old Conservative central office. From the windows where once Margaret Thatcher waved on election night now waves a blue flag with yellow stars. Where once sat Tory party researchers working on the Bruges speech, there are now French, German and Italian officials. He was invited for the opening and renaming of central office as Europe House. It cannot be easy for him.”
The Conservative Party is now based at 30 Millbank – recently targetted by student protesters.
This entry was posted in London and tagged Millbank. Bookmark the permalink.