Former Conservative ministers have spent significant amounts to retain their ministerial red boxes as souvenirs, following an election setback that they worry might keep them out of power for a prolonged period.
Several Tory politicians have paid over £2,000 to their former departments for these red boxes, typically used by ministers to transport official documents. “It could be 10 years at least before we get our hands on another one of these,” remarked one former Tory MP.
The tradition of using these boxes dates back to at least the 1850s, when William Gladstone presented his first Budget.
Jonathan Gullis, a former Tory MP who served as an education minister during Liz Truss’s brief 49-day tenure, mentioned purchasing his red box as a memento of his time in office. He intends to pass it down to his children. “I’ve got it in the house, in the living room on top of one of the drawers,” Gullis said, noting that he plans to fill it with items from his time in Westminster, including old photographs and letters from Boris Johnson.
Gullis was among the last ministers to receive approval from Queen Elizabeth, who passed away in 2022 shortly after Truss took office. His red box, therefore, carries the “ER” embossing, adding historical significance.
Boxes marked with “ER” were subsequently replaced following the ascension of King Charles. Gullis did not disclose how much he paid for his red box, although other ministers indicated the usual price was around £2,000, with departments often donating the money to charity.
Some former ministers have opted for black official boxes as souvenirs instead of the traditional red. “They aren’t all red,” one minister stated. Others, such as multimillionaire ex-business secretary Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, chose to forgo the purchase. “I’m too stingy,” Rees-Mogg admitted.
These red boxes have previously become valuable collectibles. Margaret Thatcher’s red box, for instance, was auctioned for £242,500 at Christie’s in 2015.
Veterans from both Labour and Conservative administrations have also acquired these boxes as keepsakes after security features were removed. Reports indicate that officials began permitting these sales after a series of boxes went missing.
The Department for Business and Trade noted that two boxes vanished between 2018 and 2023.