Did Boris talk to Tory donor in £1billion homes deal?

BORIS Johnson yesterday refused to say whether he spoke to a Tory party donor before ministers approved a £1billion property development.

The Prime Minister denied having any involvement in the decision to give Richard Desmond planning consent in east London. But Downing Street repeatedly refused to disclose what contacts Mr Johnson has had with the billionaire since entering No 10.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick is embroiled in a ‘cash for favours’ row for approving the development two months after sitting on the same table as Mr Desmond at a Tory fundraising dinner.

Two weeks after the decision, the former newspaper tycoon donated £12,000 to the party. Mr Jenrick has subsequently quashed his approval for the plan following a High Court challenge by Tower Hamlets Council.

Yesterday at Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Johnson confirmed that Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill was looking into the matter. He told MPs: ‘I certainly had no correspondence about the matter myself, nor as far as I am aware did any of my officials.’

In a briefing for journalists following PMQs, Mr Johnson’s spokesman said: ‘No one in No 10 has discussed the application with Mr Desmond and No 10 has had no involvement with the Secretary of State’s decision.’

Steve Reed, Labour’s housing spokesman, said: ‘This scandal reaches right inside 10 Downing Street. The Prime Minister must now come clean about when he and his advisers met Desmond since taking office.’

‘He must now come clean’