Probe into £15k fatcat-funded island holiday

BORIS Johnson is being investigated by sleaze busters over who paid for his £15,000 sunshine New Year getaway to Mustique.

The Prime Minister, 56, and fiancee Carrie Symonds, 33, jetted to the Caribbean private island after the Tories’ 2019 general election victory.

But a row quickly erupted over who funded the luxurious trip and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Kathryn Stone yesterday confirmed it is being investigated.

It comes amid a series of other probes into who financed the refurbishment of Mr Johnson’s Downing Street flat.

The PM is on a list of nine MPs under investigation. Until new rules came in yesterday the Commissioner was not allowed to say which complaints she was looking at against MPs.

The inquiry into declarations surrounding the trip was launched last March. Mr Johnson and Miss Symonds stayed on the island, part of St Vincent and the Grenadines, from Boxing Day to January 5, 2020.

The MPs’

Register of Interests stated the accommodation had a “value” of £15,000 and was covered by Carphone Warehouse co-founder David Ross. He said he had not paid for the holiday but later issued a clarification saying the register “is correct” and he “facilitated accommodation”.

A spokesman for the businessman said yesterday: “Mr Ross facilitated accommodation for Mr Johnson on Mustique valued at £15,000. Therefore this is a benefit in kind, and Mr Johnson’s declaration to the House of Commons is correct.”

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said: “The public have a right to know. We need to know what these donors were promised or expected in return.”

The PM’s spokeswoman said he “transparently” declared the benefit in kind. She admitted she had “no idea” who paid, as the arrangement was handled by a management company. It is believed Mr Ross’s villa was unavailable when Mr Johnson hoped to stay, so he arranged for another property.