Labour have written to the Prime Minister calling for a full investigation, after a statement from the government released quietly through a Parliamentary Question late on Friday failed to reveal the source of the original donor for the Downing Street flat refurb, but instead said the Prime Minister himself would be paying for the costs.
The original donor or donors of the refurbishment, reported to be worth up to £200,000, is still unknown, raising serious questions, the Party says, about who paid in the first place and whether there were any conflicts of interests given the recent sleaze scandal unfolding in government.
Labour have written to the Prime Minister demanding he makes it clear who originally paid for the refurb, why, when and how – as well as asking the Prime Minister to come clean about the allegations levelled at him by his former Chief Adviser Dominic Cummings that Johnson behaved unethically and possibly illegally in his management of the Downing Street flat refurb.
They have also underlined the increasing delay of the Register of Minister’s Interests and the lack of appointment of an Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards.
Rachel Reeves MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, wrote:
“The Ministerial Code clearly states ‘Ministers should be as open as possible with Parliament and the public’. This has not happened.
“Given we know it only takes a text message from a friend to get the full attention at the top of your government, many people will wonder what personal goodwill could be generated by a secret donation to the redecoration of your living quarters.
“Any external financial aid to a Prime Minister’s lifestyle must of course be fully declared at the time and as the Ministerial Code makes clear, real and perceived conflicts of interest must be avoided.
“I believe there needs to be a full investigation given the gravity of the new accusations from your former Chief Adviser and the serious implications of other irregularities of this concerning episode.”
