Like many of the most explosive political bombshells, the Downing Street flat scandal had a long fuse. It was fourteen months ago – back in February 2020 – that officials first became alarmed by renovations to the No 11 flat. They had good reason not to pay too much attention to decorators who had been at work there since the New Year. A dozen or so cases of Covid had been reported in Britain, and the possibility that it could endanger the UK was starting to be taken seriously by some Downing Street officials. It was fourteen months ago – back in February 2020 – that officials first became alarmed by renovations to the No 11 flat. Pictured: Lulu Lytle's collection