Sculpture worth 1.3 million pounds at UK PM Rishi Sunak’s garden triggers cost-of-living row

As the United Kingdom struggles to pull itself out of an economic slump, a cost-of-living debate erupted.

In the country after the government spent around 1.3 million pounds of taxpayer’s money to buy a bronze sculpture for 10 Downing Street garden – an official residence of UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak.

The UK government’s decision to buy the sculpture from a popular British artist drew citizens’ flak, calling it extravagant amid persistent problems of swelling inflation, household bills and cost-cutting measures.

“Henry Moore “Working Model for Seated Woman – an abstract 1980 sculpture” is believed to have been sold at a Christie’s auction and acquired by the taxpayer-funded Government Art Collection last month,” the Sun newspaper reported.

According to experts, the sculpture is one of the imperative collections of Moore’s seated women sculptures.

“However, it may be considered an extravagant use of public funds, particularly given the economic climate,” the expert said.

There has been a Moore piece in 10 Downing Street garden for the past 40 years, with works regularly rotated at the request of the late sculptor’s charitable foundation. The UK’s Government Art Collection owns more than 14,000 such valuable art pieces in buildings across the political establishment at Whitehall in London and around the world, reported news agency PTI.