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»»Keir: Tories stink of sleaze, sleaze, sleaze »»Top Tory hits out at PM’s ‘integrity vacuum’
SIR Keir Starmer yesterday demanded an independent probe as the stench of sleaze wafted even stronger at No10.
Amid a tide of questions over text messages to tycoons and the Downing Street flat refurbishment, Labour leader Sir Keir said: “Every day there is more evidence of sleaze and it stinks.
“If there’s nothing to see, whether it’s the refurbishment of No10, dodgy contracts, privileged access, then publish everything.
“Have a full inquiry. Sunlight is the best disinfectant.
“The PM wants everyone to believe that no one is bothered and hides this sleaze to make sure it never sees the light of day.
“We should be talking about jobs, jobs, jobs and we’re talking about sleaze, sleaze, sleaze.”
Sir Keir’s comments, during a campaign visit to Ilkeston, Derbys, came as Tory bigwig Sir Dominic Grieve branded the PM “a vacuum of integrity”.
CHAOS
The ex-Cabinet minister said of the flat revamp: “There’s been constant wriggling about the source of the money, and that’s just one illustration of the chaos Mr Johnson seems to be bringing in his wake.
“Ministers cannot accept gifts in their ministerial capacity, and the refurbishment of his flat clearly is in his ministerial capacity.
“If a minister gets given a gold watch by a foreign ruler, they either have to give it to the Government or buy it back.”
And Scotland’s First minister Nicola Sturgeon joined Labour in demanding an inquiry into the “overpowering stench of sleaze”.
Yesterday’s questions came after Mr Johnson’s former right-hand man Dominic Cummings let rip in an explosive blogpost.
He claimed to have warned the PM that using Tory donors to pay for flat renovations was “possibly illegal”. And he added: “It is sad to see the PM and his office fall so far below the standards of competence and integrity the country deserves.”
The PM later agreed to stump up £58,000 of his own money to do up the flat. But he may now face an Electoral Commission inquiry into who paid for what during the refurb. The Commission says it needs to establish whether any spending needs to be examined within its own remit on political donations. That means it would need to be reported and subsequently published.
Mr Johnson and fiancée Carrie Symonds are living in the flat above No11
Downing Street, which is larger than the one above No10. Shadow Cabinet Office minister Rachel Reeves demanded to know the identity of the donor who originally put up the money and whether it was a loan.
She told Mr Johnson: “Given we know it only takes a text message from a friend to get the full attention at the top of government, many will wonder what personal goodwill could be generated by a secret donation to the redecoration of your living quarters.”
A No10 spokesman said: “At all times, the Government and ministers have acted in accordance with the appropriate codes of conduct and electoral law. All reportable donations are transparently declared and published – either by the Electoral Commission or the
If there’s nothing to see, publish everything. Let’s have a full inquiry SIR KEIR STARMER BLAST AT LATEST TORY SLEAZE
House of Commons registrar, in line with the requirements set out in electoral law.”
The latest row follows revelations that ex-PM Cameron texted Chancellor Rishi Sunak while lobbying for a banker – and that Health Secretary Matt Hancock has shares in a firm run by his sister which bids for NHS work.
Mr Cummings threatened further revelations by promising to answer questions about “any” issues “for as long as MPs want”. He appears before the health and science select committee on May 26 to answer questions into the handling of Covid. Labour’s Graham Stringer said: “We can ask anything. And we will.”
Mr Johnson faced criticism following texts between him and vacuum cleaner
tycoon Sir James Dyson over Covid work. Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman also has the PM’s number.
He texted the PM warning that relations with the UK would suffer if the government failed to unblock a £300m takeover of Newcastle United last year.
Mr Johnson asked Eddie Lister, former Gulf envoy, to step in. And Lord Lister reportedly told him: “I’m on the case.”