PM’S £15k HOLS PROBE
SLEAZE WATCHDOG INVESTIGATES JUST WHO PICKED UP THE BILL FOR BORIS AND CARRIE’S TRIP TO CARIBBEAN
BORIS JOHNSON remains under investi- gation by the Commons ‘sleaze’ watchdog over a £15,000 holiday to the Caribbean, it has been revealed.
The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Kathryn Stone confirmed for the first time that she is examining if the prime minister failed to properly declare who paid for a ten-day trip to Mustique over the 2020 new year.
At the time, he said the holiday with his partner Carrie Symonds had been a ‘benefit in kind’ gift from Carphone Warehouse co-founder David Ross, who is a major Conservative Party donor. But a spokesman for the tycoon then said Mr Ross did not own the property where Mr Johnson stayed – said to have been the luxury Indigo Villa – and only ‘facilitated’ the trip.
Labour said Commons rules clearly state that MPs are supposed to declare who paid for donations to ensure total transparency and avoid any potential conflicts of interest.
It comes amid recent controversy over the prime minister’s refusal to say who allegedly loaned him money to help refurbish his Downing Street apartment. If he
is found guilty of breaking the rules Mr Johnson could be forced to apologise or may even be temporarily suspended from the Commons.
Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said: ‘The public have a right to know who paid for Boris Johnson’s luxury Caribbean holiday and the renovation of his flat.
‘Most importantly, we need to know what these donors were promised or expected in return for their generosity. As we have seen over the last year, Tory donors have received a very high return on their investment in the form of government contracts.
‘Boris Johnson needs to stop using the office of prime minister as an opportunity to fund his lavish lifestyle and enrich his mates.’ Mr Ross’s spokesman said: ‘He facilitated accommodation for Mr Johnson on Mustique, valued at £15,000. ‘Therefore this is a benefit in kind from Mr Ross to Mr Johnson, and Mr Johnson’s declaration to the House of Commons is correct.’ Mr Johnson’s spokesman said: ‘The prime minister transparently declared the benefit in kind in the Commons register of interests. Clearly the rules are set out and it’s important that everyone abides by them, as the prime minister has done throughout.’
Mr Johnson appears on a list, published under new Commons rules, of nine MPs who are under investigation by the commissioner. Six are accused of ‘using stationery provided from the public purse’, including former environment secretary Theresa Villiers.