If guilty, PM’S position could be untenable QA &

What’s the row all about?

questions are unanswered. And while it’s the PM’S residence, a lot of time and energy is being wasted on this issue while people still die of Covid.

The Prime Minister faces questions over a lavish refurb of the four-bed flat above 11 Downing Street overseen by his fiancee Carrie Symonds last year.

Every PM gets £30,000 a year to cover such costs, but the couple’s bill has gone £58,000 over – with some reports suggesting as high as £200,000 – after Carrie was inspired by the designer Lulu Lytle.

Who paid for the flat makeover? Boris Johnson insisted he met all the costs of the renovations from his own pocket.

But it is claimed by Dominic Cummings that he tried to get Tory donors to pay first.

The Cabinet There are now Office appears to three probes – have picked up Cabinet Secretary the initial bill and Simon Case is been paid back by also leading an the Tory party, internal review which the PM is which should reimbursing. conclude within a

It suggests he few weeks. was given help by New ministerial a Tory donor in sleazebuster Lord some form, at the Christopher Geidt very least in the will conduct his form of a loan. own inquiry – but

What’s this the PM does not

about a have to accept

charitable trust? his findings. But Work has been GRAND DESIGNS Carrie Symonds most worrying for ongoing for a full year to try to set up No 10 will be the official investigation a charitable trust to fund repairs in by the Electoral Commission into the Downing Street. Conservative Party’s funding of the

Tory peer and donor Lord refurbishment – and by extension Mr Brownlow had agreed to chair Johnson’s own finances. the Trust – but it still isn’t set up – and a charity would not be able to fund the private areas of Downing Street. Lord Brownlow emailed Tory chiefs in October saying he had given them

£58,000 to cover the cost.

Did Boris Johnson break rules?

He insisted yesterday that he had not and No 10 claimed he acted “in accordance with the appropriate codes of conduct and electoral law”.

But eyebrows have been raised – no donation or loan has been recorded with the Electoral Commission or on the PM’S register of interests within the time limits.

The watchdog said there were “reasonable grounds” to suspect the law may have been broken by a failure to declare a donation.

Who is looking into it? What may happen if he’s found in breach of rules?

If a party breaks the rules about making declarations to the Electoral Commission the range of sanctions includes a fine of up to £20,000. Very serious offensives can also be referred to the It is crucial that the PM does not take police. If there is a breach of the favours from people who could ask ministerial code, it would normally be favours from him in return. the PM who decides the sanction. That’s why MPS and ministers have But he is unlikely to sack himself. to declare gifts, hospitality, donations However, the Commons Standards – to make sure any conflicts of Committee could force £58k interest can be policed. him to apologise or We also need our suspend him from authorities to be Parliament. His transparent to avoid position could be these sorts of conflicts untenable. of interest. After

Amount Lord Brownlow months of questioning, key said he gave to cover

Online Political Editor

the cost of the refurb

Why does it matter?

DESIGNER

Lulu Lytle