Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MUSTIQUE PM VILLA MYSTERY DEEPENS
Owner says she WAS paid for holiday
THE owner of the luxury Caribbean villa where Boris Johnson enjoyed a New Year holiday has said she was paid for letting the property.
Sarah Richardson, who owns the hideaway on the paradise island of Mustique, where the PM spent 10 days, confirmed she and her husband Craig “got paid” for the stay.
But she said she had “no idea” who covered the cost, as the arrangement was handled by the private island’s management company.
The PM declared in his Register of Interests that Carphone Warehouse boss David Ross paid for the trip.
But Mr Johnson faces a probe over the £15,000 holiday amid ongoing confusion about who funded the break.
Ms Richardson said: “We got paid for the stay – we get paid for anybody who rents our house. But we have no idea who paid for the house, whether he [Mr Johnson] did, or whoever this Mr Ross is – I don’t know who he is – paid.”
She refused to say if the cost was £15,000 – the amount declared by Mr
Johnson to parliamentary authorities. Ms Richardson insisted: “I’m not going to answer that. That’s private information for sure. I can’t answer that.”
It is understood Mr Ross’s own villa on the isle was unavailable at the time. Mr Ross is thought to have arranged for the PM to stay in a different property on a timeshare-style basis.
Labour has written to Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Kathryn Stone demanding an investigation.
The PM, 55, and girlfriend Carrie Symonds, 31, flew to Mustique for their jaunt two weeks after the Tories’ general election triumph.
The PM recorded the trip in the MPS’ Register of Interests – and claimed it was a gift from prominent Tory donor Mr Ross.
But the businessman’s spokesman said: “Boris got the use of a villa that was worth £15,000 – but David Ross did not pay any monies whatsoever for this.”
A No10 spokeswoman said: “All transparency requirements have been followed, as set out in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests.”