Home Office staff blew £10k on dinner at swanky London restaurant

HOME Office staff blew £10,000 of taxpayer cash on a dinner at a skyscraper restaurant.

Civil servants racked up the bill in London’s swanky Searcys at The Gherkin.

They had “exceptional permission” to pay via Government Procurement Card for the event thrown for their Italian counterparts.

Campaigners said such “outrageous extravagance” on the nation could never be justified — as the Government insists money is tight.

The £10,350 bill in November was declared in a government credit card spending report.

It was claimed by a research and strategy team for a “reception and dinner” for around 45 officials at the UK-Italian meeting, which the Home Office said was vital towards work to stop the Channel boats.

Searcys, on level 40 of The Gherkin, offers sweeping views of the capital — and its cheapest bottle of wine costs £39.

Home Office ministers were not present nor aware of the spend and are now looking at getting sign-off for future departmental hospitality costs.

John O’Connell, of the Tax-Payers’ Alliance, said: “There can be no excuse for this outrageous extravagance.

"Whoever approved this needs to be given a good dressing-down.”

The Home Office said: “The event required a secure venue and contributed to the development of crucial agreements to enhance information sharing.”