The Sun, on UK Politics, 27 October 2026

3.0out of 10Minor

Civil service mandarins splash out £33k on luxury country house retreat – then claim it was a bargain

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6 comments 6 Next CIVIL Service mandarins splashed out £33,000 of taxpayer cash on a staff retreat at a luxury country house, The Sun can reveal. Thirty senior public sector chiefs spent four days at the historic Hartwell House in Buckinghamshire that boasts a swimming pool , spa and tennis courts . The north front of Hartwell House, Buckinghamshire Credit: Alamy A bedroom at Hartwell House, Buckinghamshire. Hartwell House is part of the Historic House Hotels group.

Credit: Alamy Advertisement But the Cabinet Office tried to insist the public should be grateful that the £33,168.45 was not even more expensive. The taxpayer-funded gathering at the four-star manor took place between April 28 and May 1, with the bill covering overnight stays, meals and teaching sessions. Sign up for the Politics newsletter Thank you! Email address Please provide a valid email. Your info will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy You'll now receive top stories, breaking news, and more, straight to your email.

Pictures posted online by an events production company show attendees gathered inside the stately home, with large screens and professional sound equipment set up. The grand mansion is set in 90 acres of parkland and boasts a swanky restaurant with a 20-page wine list. READ MORE ON POLITICS IN A PICKLE Burnham mocked over Budget 'insult' for cheaper GHERKINS to fix cost of living STEEL NO ACTION Labour MP warns Burnham’s industry pledge risks becoming empty words Shadow Cabinet Office Minister Mike Wood blasted: “At a time when families are tightening their belts in the face of rising prices and rising taxes, £33,000 is an absurd amount to waste on a big day out for officials at a stately home.

“Labour said they would ban taxpayer-funded away days. Clearly the Cabinet Office didn’t get the memo.” The event formed part of the Government’s 12-month Public Leaders Programme, designed to improve the leadership skills of chief executive-level bosses running major public sector organisations. Officials insisted the training was delivered in-house to avoid splashing out on expensive consultants. Advertisement Most read in The Sun DEADLY SMASH Mum's fury as soldier who crashed BMW into trees & killed daughter avoids jail SEA TRAGEDY 'Beautiful' dogwalker who died after being swept out to sea in storm pictured TRAGIC END Influencer, 30, dies just days after haunting post as manager slams bullying FAMILY CRISIS Troubling twist after mom's arrest for leaving 4 kids at home for Vegas trip They also claimed the course cost 30 per cent less than a comparable private sector programme.

The Cabinet Office said Hartwell House was chosen after a review of suitable venues, including government-owned buildings. A Government spokesperson said: “This was a course delivered in-house as a part of reducing spend on consultancies, providing better value for money for the taxpayer. “External venues are permitted only in exceptional circumstances such as these, and teams must show how using them delivers value for money and advances public priorities.” 6 comments 6

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What we found (1)

The Sun reports a £33,168 four-day leadership course for 30 senior public sector chiefs at Hartwell House, with the Conservative criticism and the government's reply. In its own voice The Sun calls the course a "lavish leadership jaunt", though its own report says the event was part of a 12-month leadership programme and the bill covered teaching sessions. This is a tone problem: the facts and the government's reply are in the piece.

  1. Uses a loaded word

    Minor

    “lavish leadership jaunt”

    Why this matters
    The Sun calls the course a "lavish leadership jaunt" in its own voice.
    The impression it gives
    A reader believes the four days were a pleasure trip rather than training.
    The context
    The article itself says the event was part of a 12-month Public Leaders Programme and that the bill covered teaching sessions as well as rooms and meals.

    How we know

    • Elsewhere in the article“Government’s 12-month Public Leaders Programme”
    • Elsewhere in the article“the bill covering overnight stays, meals and teaching sessions”

    Show it in the article

What it gets right

  • “took place between April 28 and May 1, with the bill covering overnight stays, meals and teaching sessions”

    Gives the dates and says exactly what the £33,168 paid for, so a reader can judge the cost.

  • “External venues are permitted only in exceptional circumstances such as these, and teams must show how using them delivers value for money and advances public priorities.”

    Prints the government's reply at length and lets it close the piece, so the criticised party's case is put in its own words.

  • “They also claimed the course cost 30 per cent less than a comparable private sector programme.”

    Reports the government's main cost comparison and attributes it clearly.

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