Under the current government, the building is being used to house the Prime Minister's Press Office, Strategic Communications Unit and Research and Information Unit. The Chief Whip has his offices in 9 Downing Street.
Other residences in Downing Street are 10 Downing Street, official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury (a position that has been held by the Prime Minister since the early 20th century), and 11 Downing Street, official residence of the Second Lord of the Treasury who in recent years has also held the title of Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Famous quotes containing the words downing street, downing and/or street:
“My good friends, this is the second time in our history that there has come back from Germany to Downing Street peace with honour. I believe it is peace for our time. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. And now I recommend you to go home and sleep quietly in your beds.”
—Neville Chamberlain (1869–1940)
“The democratic youth ... lives along day by day, gratifying the desire that occurs to him, at one time drinking and listening to the flute, at another downing water and reducing, now practising gymnastic, and again idling and neglecting everything; and sometimes spending his time as though he were occupied in philosophy.”
—Plato (c. 427–347 B.C.)
“I marched in with the men afoot; a gallant show they made as they marched up High Street to the depot. Lucy and Mother Webb remained several hours until we left. I saw them watching me as I stood on the platform at the rear of the last car as long as they could see me. Their eyes swam. I kept my emotion under control enough not to melt into tears.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)