No.10 bid ‘to conceal truth’ in Johnson flat storm – Drakeford
FIRST Minister Mark Drakeford has accused No.10 of trying to “conceal” the truth over the refurbishment of Boris Johnson’s Downing Street flat as the Electoral Commission launched a formal investigation.
It comes amid reports yesterday that the Prime Minister told aides he could not afford the revamp, with speculation as much as £200,000 was spent on refurbishing the four-bedroom flat at the No.11 residence where he lives with partner, Carrie Symonds, and son, Wilf.
Mr Drakeford yesterday said he was “very glad” the inquiry has been launched.
He said: “I’m very glad the Electoral Commission has decided to do that because it will mean that the full facts will now be available to the public.
“I think you can see that over
recent days the Prime Minister and the people who speak on his behalf have been very careful in choosing the words that they use. Choosing them, I think, to conceal the full story from people.
“Now with a formal investigation the whole story will become available, and then people will be able to judge for themselves.”
Asked what effect the allegations would have, Mr Drakeford said: “I’m afraid it probably brings politics in general into disrepute.
“It’s very unusual in a UK setting. Politics in the UK has been very free of the sort of allegations we are seeing today.
“And that’s why they are so serious. Because you cannot think of another Prime Minister who would have acted in the way that is alleged the current Prime Minister has acted, and then tried to conceal that from people.”
The makeover by Mr Johnson and Carrie is said to have included £840-a-roll wallpaper, a £9,800 Baby Bear sofa and a £3,000 Lily Drum tablet.
But Mr Johnson insisted he has not broken any laws, despite the Electoral Commission saying there are “reasonable grounds” to suspect an offence may have occurred, dramatically deepening the Prime Minister’s troubles over the renovations.
Questions have been mounting since former aide Dominic Cummings accused Mr Johnson of wanting donors to “secretly pay” for the renovations to his No.11 residence in a “possibly illegal” move.
Shortly after the commission’s announcement, Mr Johnson told Prime Minister’s Questions he “personally” paid for the renovations, but refused to answer whether he received an initial loan from the Tory party.
Challenged by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer over the “incredibly serious” development, Mr Johnson told MPs that “any further declaration that I have to make, if any” will be advised by his newly-appointed independent adviser on ministers’ interests, Lord Geidt.
Sir Keir pressed the Prime Minister on whether he believes any “rules or laws have been broken” over the refurbishment of the flat.
“No, I don’t,” Mr Johnson replied, adding that he has “met the requirements that I have been obliged to meet in full”.
During the angry exchange in the Commons, the Prime Minister was also forced to deny having said he would rather see “bodies pile high” than impose a third coronavirus lockdown.
The questioning came less than an hour after the Electoral Commission announced its investigation into whether any financial transaction related to the renovations was properly declared.
“We are now satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to suspect that an offence or offences may have occurred,” a statement from the watchdog said, after it conducted an assessment of information provided by the Tories late last month.
“We will therefore continue this work as a formal investigation to establish whether this is the case.”
Crucially, the watchdog said the investigation will “determine whether any transactions relating” to the renovations “fall within the regime regulated by the commission and whether such funding was reported as required”.
“We will provide an update once the investigation is complete. We will not be commenting further until that point,” a spokeswoman added.
The Conservative Party said it would “continue to work constructively” with the commission.
“We believe all reportable donations have been transparently and correctly declared and published by the Electoral Commission,” a spokesman said.
The commission can issue fines of up to £20,000, with most offences under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 resulting in a civil sanction.
But it can also refer investigations to the police or prosecutors.
Investigators can demand documents, information and explanations, and could potentially seek a statutory interview with the Prime Minister as part of the process.
Asked if Mr Johnson is willing to be questioned in person, the Mr Johnson’s press secretary said: “The Prime Minister hasn’t been asked for any information but he and the Government will of course be happy to assist if asked.”
The announcement came as former private secretary to the Queen Lord Geidt was appointed as the new independent adviser on ministers’ interests.
The post has been vacant since Sir Alex Allan resigned in November in response to Mr Johnson standing by Home Secretary Priti Patel despite an investigation finding her conduct “amounted to behaviour that can be described as bullying”.
The appointment of the new adviser paves the way for the publication of the latest register of ministerial interests, which could contain details of any donations to fund the Downing Street flat.
However, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Mr Johnson will remain the “ultimate arbiter” of whether the ministerial code has been broken, even if the investigation centres on himself.