Tom Baldwin said that the prime minister found the £100,000 painting, which was commissioned by Gordon Brown, “unsettling” – sparking outrage among Conservative MPs.
Speaking at an event organised by Glasgow’s Aye Write book festival, Mr Baldwin said that after Sir Keir took office, they met at No 10 for a private conversation.
He said: “We sat there, and I go, ‘It’s a bit unsettling with her staring down at you like that, isn’t it?’”
Sir Keir replied yes and, when asked whether he would “get rid of it”, the prime minister nodded, according to Mr Baldwin.
Mr Baldwin added: “And he has.”
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