Boris Johnson’s new standards advisor Lord Geidt vows to publish details of ‘wallpapergate’ refurbishment of the PM’s Downing Street flat by the end of MAY
- Peer plans to release overdue register of ministerial interests by the end of May
- It will contain the Prime Minister’s entry covering the No11 flat renovation
- Johnson is under pressure to reveal if any Tory donors were involved in funding
Details of who paid for Boris Johnson’s controversial refurbishment of his Downing Street flat could be revealed within weeks, his new adviser on ministerial behaviour said today.
Lord Christopher Geidt, a former aide to the Queen, told MPs that he planned to release the long overdue register of ministerial interests by the end of May.
And he confirmed that he expected Mr Johnson’s entry covering the renovation of his No11 apartment, and his own advice on the issue, would be released as part of it.
Mr Johnson is under pressure to reveal if any Tory donors were involved in funding the costly renovation.
The Prime Minister has insisted he paid for the work, but has been silent on whether anyone else was initially approached to fund it, in a move which would raise conflict of interest concerns.
Lord Geidt has just taken over as independent adviser on ministerial standards. He replaces Sir Alex Allan, who resigned earlier this year over the PM’s refusal to take action against Home Secretary Priti Patel for bullying staff.
The list of ministers’ interests has not been published since July last year. Facing the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee this morning Lord Geidt said it was ‘unfortunate’ that the register of ministerial interests was not published last December when it should have been.
‘I’m determined that it should be published by the end of this month,’ he said.
‘I think public confidence, I think in my judgment, demands that this list be published without further delay. The publication of the list of interests will include the Prime Minister.
‘And of course, as part of my appointment, I have been asked to make an inquiry on the facts of the circumstances of the refurbishment of the flat at Downing Street and to advise the Prime Minister on his declaration of interests so that by the time we get to the end of the month we will have that declaration and alongside that I will report, and I will do so in a timely fashion, in other words simultaneously, a report into the necessary context to the declaration of ministers’ interests.’
Lord Christopher Geidt, a former aide to the Queen, told MPs that he planned to release the long overdue register of ministerial interests by the end of May.
Mr Johnson is under pressure to reveal if any Tory donors were involved in funding the costly renovation.
Mr Johnson’s fiancee Carrie Symonds is said to have hired upmarket designer Lulu Lytle to carry out the makeover. Miss Lytle charges up to £840 for a roll of wallpaper and £19,950 for a sofa.
The Electoral Commission has launched an investigation into the funding of work on the prime minister’s apartment in Downing Street, saying there were grounds to suspect an offence had been committed. Johnson says he has followed the rules and covered the costs of the refurbishment.
Election watchdogs are quizzing Tory chiefs over a secret £60,000 payment for the lavish makeover.
They have asked Conservative chairman Ben Elliot to explain whether the party complied with strict laws on political donations.
Mr Johnson’s fiancee Carrie Symonds is said to have hired upmarket designer Lulu Lytle to carry out the makeover. Miss Lytle charges up to £840 for a roll of wallpaper and £19,950 for a sofa.
Scrutiny over the overhaul of the flat above No11 where Boris Johnson and fiancee Carrie Symonds and son Wilf live has refused to abate despite the government’s efforts to draw a line under the issue
The commission is looking at whether the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 has been broken, with most of the offences civil matters and punishable with fines of up to £20,000 – although it can refer more serious abuse to the police. It is not clear what part of the Act the watchdog believes might have been breached.
Investigators can demand documents, information and explanations, and could potentially seek a statutory interview with the Prime Minister as part of the process.
Scrutiny over the overhaul of the flat above No11 where Mr Johnson and fiancee Carrie Symonds and son Wilf live has refused to abate despite the government’s efforts to draw a line under the issue.
Downing Street has declined to deny that Tory funds were used to cover £58,000 of the costs – on top of the £30,000 annual allowance given by the taxpayer.
But the gift last July has not been declared anywhere as yet, and Mr Johnson now insists he has paid the sum himself – with speculation he took out a loan.
No10 has come under fire for saying Conservative funds are not currently being used for a refurbishment, without addressing the issue of whether they were in the past.
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