Downing Street changes press room podium after apparent design blunder

‘White House’-style media chamber has its first public outing in Covid-19 broadcast

(REUTERS)

Downing Street appears to have overhauled the look of its new £2.6m press briefing room after an initial design blunder.

Preview images of the room sent out by broadcasters were widely mocked on social media earlier this month.

The podium had featured the words “Downing Street” with an HM government logo superimposed over it.

But the logo blocked the middle letters of the text - so that only “DOWN REET” was visible.

The design appears to have been changed in time for the room’s first true public outing, with the text now removed and only the coat of arms visible.

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The number of flags positioned behind to the rear of the stage has also been reduced from four to two.

(ITV NEWS)

Boris Johnson was the first to use the new briefing room, which is housed in No 9 Downing Street.

Holding a press conference on the day coronavirus restrictions were eased slightly in England, he told reporters he was “hopeful” the current lockdown would be the last.

The PM was flanked by Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance, whose podiums said “Downing Street” but had no plaques.