An overpowering stench of sleaze
Sturgeon blasts Johnson and the Tories
Ni cola Sturgeon has launched a blistering attack on the “overpowering stench of sleaze” surrounding Boris Johnson and the Tories.
The First Minister has called for a full public inquiry into all aspects of the lobbying scandal engulfing Westminster as she campaigned for the Holyrood election on May 6.
It comes after texts emerged showing the Prime Minister promising to change the tax system to help billionaire James Dyson.
That has led to a vicious war between Boris and his former advisor Dominic Cummings about who leaked the messages. The Conservatives were already facing cronyism al lee ga ti ons over forformer PM David Cameron’s lobying of Rishi Sunak on behalf of collapsed finance firm Greensill Capital. Sturgeon said : “The stench of sleaze that is surrounding this UK Tor y Government is becoming quite overpowering.
“Whether it is contracts for cronies, donations for decorating or text messages for tax breaks, it is time for the Tories to put all their dealings into the public domain and let them be properly investigated.
“There are serious allegations being levelled at Boris Johnson and his Government , including by people who worked inside it.
“As someone who has recently been subject to farreaching inquiries and scrutiny, a thorough investigation is needed given the range and seriousness of allegations. The
SNP has led cal ls for a ful l comprehensive public inquiry and that must happen immediately.”
Johnson is also being urged to explain how the refurbishment of his Downing Street f lat was financed following allegations from Cummings. He claimed the PM had a “possibly illegal” plan to get Tory donors to fund the work.
The Government has insisted the “costs of wider refurbishment in this year have been met by the
Prime Minister personally”. But Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “Publish the details, have the full inquiry.”
Cummings was previously Johnson’s closest ally but he was forced out of Downing Street last year. He has questioned Johnson’s “competence and integrity” in a blog.
Johnson has said anyone who thinks there was something “dodgy” in his dealings with Sir James Dyson is “out of their mind”.
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford added: “Boris Johnson must confirm he will make available every text message, every email, every call – just as his former adviser is promising to do. The Government must put all information in the public domain immediately and an independent public inquiry should be set up straight away.
“There are now so many different parts to this Tory scandal that a comprehensive i nve s t i gat ion i nto t he workings of this deeply dodgy Tory Government is the only answer.”
Blackford has written to the Cabinet Secretary calling for the publication of Johnson’s private correspondence on coronavirus contracts.
During the pandemic, deals worth hundreds of millions of pounds were handed out, often to f irms with links to political parties.