Fury as the British Embassy in Sweden hires David Bowie and Baby Spice lookalikes for £7,000
Officials have sparked fury after £7,000 was spent during the cost of living crisis hiring celebrity lookalikes from David Bowie to Baby Spice to celebrate the Queen’s platinum jubilee.
The lavish party, held at the British Embassy in Sweden, saw performers from Entourage Productions stroll around the building to mark the late Queen’s birthday.
Other actors from the production company even dress up as a Boris Johnson doppelganger, appearing caged and chained in a straitjacket like Hannibal Lector.
However, the Foreign Office insisted that none of the actors were dressed as the former prime minister during the celebrations.
Entourage Productions, which attended the party, has a doppelganger who looks like Boris Johnson, pictured caged and chained in a straitjacket like Hannibal Lector. But the Foreign Office said none of the actors dressed up as the former prime minister
Government officials splashed out £7,000 to hire celebrity lookalikes, from David Bowie to Baby Spice, to celebrate the Queen’s platinum jubilee at the British Embassy in Sweden
Around 60 people are believed to have gained access to Ambassador Judith Gough’s residence in Stockholm in June, The Mirror reports.
The cost of employing the artists has led to a backlash from the opposition as the country continues to struggle with the cost of living crisis, resulting in high energy bills and food prices.
A Labor source said the mirror: ‘The Tories must not realize we are in the middle of a cost of living crisis or they must not care.
Either way, they have to take their £7,000 dance troupes and leave the stage immediately.
“Fetish paraphernalia, pig heads and Boris in a cage: all this would be a good laugh if it weren’t such a grotesque waste of taxpayers’ money.”
Although no one dressed up as Paddington Bear, there were toys scattered around the home to pay tribute to the Queen
British Ambassador Judith Gough attended the party wearing a Union Jack dress and carrying a Paddington Bear toy. Although no one dressed up as Paddington Bear, there were toys scattered around the home to pay tribute to the Queen
British pop hits and bagpipe music blasted the party as guests nibbled on anniversary cakes and British sausage from a barbeque.
Although no one dressed up as Paddington Bear, there were toys scattered around the home to pay tribute to the Queen.
Those who attended the party had “in some way helped us to strengthen the ties between Britain and Sweden”, it was reported.
The Foreign Office said such events are an “important opportunity” to promote “UK influence on the world stage and Britain’s influence on the world stage and bilateral relations between countries”.
In late December, Labor MP Emily Thornberry asked the Secretary of State, “referring to his department’s publication of expenditure on government procurement cards over £500 for June 2022, what was (a) the nature and (b) purpose of the services for which Entourage received 6,941 ‘£43 paid on 17 June 2022’.
A picture from the Jubileumfesten held at the British Embassy in Stockholm.
British pop hits and bagpipe music blasted the party as guests ate anniversary cakes and British sausage from a barbecue
Foreign Affairs Minister David Rutley said some of the funds from the party came from private sponsors.
He added: “Staff considered a number of tenders; Entourage Productions was considered to represent the best value for money in terms of lowest cost and range of services.
“The Queen’s Birthday Party was funded by a combination of GREAT UK funding and private sponsorship.”
A Foreign Office spokesman told MailOnline: ‘The British Embassy Stockholm hired entertainers to come to the anniversary celebrations dressed as well-known British personalities, including David Bowie and Baby Spice.
“Events such as the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations are an important opportunity to promote the UK’s influence on the world stage and bilateral relations between countries.”
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