No. 10 applies to ‘strike out’ PM’S county court judgment

An application is to be made to strike out a £535 debt claim that emerged against Boris Johnson because it is "totally without merit", according to Downing Street.

It emerged the Prime Minister has been issued with a county court judgment for an unpaid debt of £535, with a search of the official database showing the "unsatisfied record" registered to him at "10 Downing Street".

The judgment is dated October 26, 2020, which is a key period concerning questions over the Prime Minister's controversial refurbishment to his flat in No 11.

In response, a Number 10 spokeswoman said on

Wednesday: "An application will be made for an order to set aside the default judgment, to strike out the claim and for a declaration that the claim is totally without merit."

Downing Street earlier appeared unaware of the judgment but officials insisted it is not linked to the flat renovation, which the Electoral Commission is investigating to ascertain whether any donations were properly declared.

"I have seen that report, we are looking into this issue," the Prime Minister's official spokesman said.

"I can confirm it is nothing to do with the refurbishment of the Downing Street estate, where all such bills have been duly paid either by the government or the Prime Minister personally."

Asked whether the Prime Minister could be trusted with the nation's finances if he could not manage his own, the spokesman said: "I think our record on the economy is very clear."

The court records, first reported by the Private Eye magazine, do not state who the creditor is, nor the nature of the debt.

The judgment was issued on October 26, less than a fortnight after a Conservative donor told the party he was donating £58,000 in relation to refurbishments at Mr Johnson's official residence.

Mr Johnson has denied any wrongdoing and insisted he personally paid for the lavish refurbishments, but has declined to say whether he received an initial loan.