“Tell us about where you’re getting this money from, Boris, to do up your flat”, says Angela Rayner
The International Trade Secretary Liz Truss has insisted that the Prime Minister Boris Johnson has paid for the refurbishment of his Downing Street flat from “his own pocket,” despite growing speculation that the renovation was funded by Tory Donors.
Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, Liz Truss said she does not know the total cost of the renovation but insisted that “the spending has been covered by [the PM] personally.”
She said: “My understanding is the costs have been covered by the Prime Minister and everything is being fully declared in line with the rules.”
Secretary of State Liz Truss insists Boris Johnson paid for renovations to his Downing Street flat "from his own pocket"
She says, "the Prime Minister has personally met the costs and everything will be declared as it ought to be in the proper way"#Marr https://t.co/kuPvdfo6l2 pic.twitter.com/i0FrRwJPNc
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) April 25, 2021
This comes after the PM’s former aide, Dominic Cummings, said the the PM once had an “unethical” and “possibly illegal” plan for Tory donors to cover the costs of the refurbishment.
On his blog, Cummings said: “The Prime Minister’s DOC [Director of Communications] has also made accusations regarding me and leaks concerning the PM’s renovation of his flat. The PM stopped speaking to me about this matter in 2020 as I told him I thought his plans to have donors secretly pay for the renovation were unethical, foolish, possibly illegal and almost certainly broke the rules on proper disclosure of political donations if conducted in the way he intended.”
Responding to the Cummings’ accusations, Keir Starmer told ITV News: “It’s about integrity and it’s about taxpayers’ money.”
“Everyday there’s more evidence of this sleaze, and frankly, it stinks,” the Labour Leader said.
The Opposition party has demanded a full inquiry into the claims made by the PM’s former aide.
Speaking on the Andrew Marr show about Cummings’ comments, Deputy Leader of the Opposition Angela Rayner said: “These are serious allegations and we also think the Prime Minister should come to the Commons on Monday and should declare the Ministers’ Register of Interest, which is eight months in delay.”
She added: “Tell us about where you’re getting this money from, Boris, to do up your flat.”
Pressure is mounting on the PM to lay out the details of the refurbishment costs of his No.11 Downing Street flat.
