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Who to trust? Investigation launched into UK PM’s spending on flat repairs

- Boris Johnson government accused of being ‘mired in sleaze, cronyism & scandal’
United Kingdom Prime Minister Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson aka ‘Boris’ has repeatedly dodged questions over who paid the initial costs of his Downing Street flat refurbishment, following the dramatic announcement that the potentially law-breaking matter will be investigated by the Electoral Commission. Photo: Yahoo News UK
Labour’s Sir Keir R. Starmer has accused the Boris Johnson Government of being ‘mired in sleaze, cronyism & scandal’. Mr Johnson has repeatedly dodged questions concerning spending on renovations to his residential flat. Photo: BBC
Labour’s Sir Keir R. Starmer has accused the Boris Johnson Government of being ‘mired in sleaze, cronyism & scandal’. Mr Johnson has repeatedly dodged questions concerning spending on renovations to his residential flat. Photo: BBC
Boris Johnson has fully backed a highly controversial and suspicious Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into governance in the Virgin Islands in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic while refusing to have a CoI into his own Government’s spending and handling of the pandemic. The CoI was called in January 2021 by former Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert (in photo) who was accused of being racist and antagonistic against the democratically elected government. Photo: VINO/File
Boris Johnson has fully backed a highly controversial and suspicious Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into governance in the Virgin Islands in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic while refusing to have a CoI into his own Government’s spending and handling of the pandemic. The CoI was called in January 2021 by former Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert (in photo) who was accused of being racist and antagonistic against the democratically elected government. Photo: VINO/File
LONDON, United Kingdom- While some in the Virgin Islands and elsewhere have been conditioned and remain conditioned to believe that the imperialist Government of United Kingdom Prime Minister Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson aka ‘Boris’ is without sin and the saviour of the Virgin Islands, its once slave colony, it continues to be revealed that such persons might as well start believing in fairies, magic kingdoms and leprechauns.

Almost on a daily basis, the United Kingdom’s (UK) own parliamentarians continue to expose Mr Johnson and his government of engaging in possible corruption, alleged cronyism and mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Johnson, currently facing backlash for allegedly saying last year that he would rather "let the bodies pile high in their thousands" than impose a 3rd lockdown as the coronavirus pandemic raged across Britain, is now being investigated for repair works conducted on his Downing Street flat.

The investigation is being done by the spending watchdog, Electoral Commission, who said there were "reasonable grounds to suspect that an offence or offences may have occurred".

The PM has been under growing pressure to declare how refurbishments were paid for after his ex-adviser said there was a plan for donors to "secretly pay".

According to the BBC today, April 28, 2021, Mr Johnson told MPs he covered the revamp "personally" - but would not say who paid the initial bill.

While it is not against the rules to receive donations, politicians must declare them so the public can see who has given them money and whether it has had any influence on their decisions.

The Commission - which regulates party and election finance - has the power to investigate if such funding has been declared properly and can impose fines or pass on allegations to the police if they see fit.

Uk Gov’t ‘mired in sleaze, cronyism & scandal’

Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions today, Wednesday, April 28, 2021, Labour's Sir Keir R. Starmer pushed the PM to explain who paid for the initial invoice for renovations - giving him "multiple choice" answers between the taxpayer, the Conservative Party, a private donor or Mr Johnson himself.

Sir Keir accused the government of being "mired in sleaze, cronyism and scandal".

PM Johnson, who has fully backed a highly controversial and suspicious Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into governance in the Virgin Islands in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic while refusing to have a CoI into his own Government’s spending and handling of the pandemic, repeatedly dodged questions from Sir Keir, following the dramatic announcement that the potentially law-breaking matter will be investigated by the Electoral Commission.

"He never answers the question," Labour leader Starmer said in a bitter exchange with Johnson.

Johnson claimed the matter was "irrelevant" to "most people".

According to the BBC, the Electoral Commission has been in contact with the Conservative Party since March over works the PM carried out to No 11.

A spokesman for the watchdog said its newly launched investigation would "determine whether any transactions relating to the works at 11 Downing Street fall within the regime regulated by the Commission and whether such funding was reported as required".

Add facilitating alleged bullies to Johnson’s resume

Shortly after the Commission announced its investigation, No 10 confirmed it had appointed a new independent adviser on ministers' interests.

Crossbench peer Lord Geidt will take up the role that has sat empty for five months after the resignation of Sir Alexander C. S. Allan in November 2020.

Sir Alex quit after PM Johnson rejected his finding into Home Secretary Priti S. Patel, concluding she had broken the ministerial code over bullying allegations.

The PM and his fiancee, Carrie Symonds, carried out works on the flat above No 11 after moving in when Mr Johnson became prime minister in July 2019.

The BBC said the PM receives an annual public grant of £30,000 to carry out renovations to the private residence each year - but reports from newspapers suggested the bill for the latest renovations could be as high as £200,000.

While the government has insisted that Mr Johnson paid for the refurbishments out of his own pocket, his former adviser, Dominic M. Cummings, wrote a blog last week, claiming the PM once planned to have donors "secretly pay" for the work on his flat.

He described the move as "unethical, foolish, possibly illegal and almost certainly broke the rules on proper disclosure of political donations if conducted in the way he intended".

No 10 has refused to say whether the prime minister initially received a loan to cover the costs, but Downing Street has insisted the prime minister has "acted in accordance with the appropriate codes of conduct and electoral law".

'Incredibly serious'

Labour leader Sir Keir told the PM the rules were "very clear" and the investigation by the Electoral Commission was "incredibly serious".

He asked: "Can the prime minister tell the House, does he believe that any rules or laws have been broken in relation to the refurbishment of the prime minister's flat?"

Mr Johnson replied: "No I don't. What I believe has been strained to breaking point is the credulity of the public.

"[Sir Keir] has half an hour every week to put serious questions to me... and he goes on and on about wallpaper when I have told him umpteen times now I paid for it."

13 Responses to “Who to trust? Investigation launched into UK PM’s spending on flat repairs”

  • Rubber Duck (28/04/2021, 13:18) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well not politicians that’s for sure. We have to watch them all. No matter where or who.
  • reality (28/04/2021, 13:27) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    Trust in God the incorruptible! We know what is good for us and it is definitely not our former slave masters! The people who don't appreciate what we went through for hundreds of years will dislike this comment!
  • FEO GOMEZ (28/04/2021, 14:06) Like (16) Dislike (3) Reply

    Rule #1 NEVER EXPLAIN CHIT TO W**** PEOPLE.

    Rule#2 W**** PEOPLE LIE. HISTORY TAUGHT US THAT.

  • Uncle Tom (28/04/2021, 14:21) Like (30) Dislike (8) Reply
    The white governor should withdraw the fake news commission of inquiry off the good people of the bvi
  • mad max (28/04/2021, 14:24) Like (15) Dislike (31) Reply
    All these articles miss the point. The politicians are being held accountable. That’s what the COI is all about. The BVI has no accountability!
    • Sigh (28/04/2021, 14:46) Like (51) Dislike (8) Reply
      If only it was that simple! Let's not fool ourselves...this is bigger than some alleged corruption. This is imperialism and racism at its best.
    • Really (28/04/2021, 16:48) Like (0) Dislike (15) Reply
      @Mad max . If they were held accountable they would not be requesting a COI. If the BVI have no accountability why are you still here. Is people like you who blog all the time trying to make the BVI the worst nation of all.
  • facts (28/04/2021, 14:32) Like (21) Dislike (3) Reply
    We need to look into the one just gone and the house he was buying behind the scene for little or no money. He is in one of the pictures at the bottom. Thing to talk.
  • Ghut Man (28/04/2021, 16:56) Like (2) Dislike (8) Reply
    Ayo accuse white people of being racist but some of ayo need to reflect on yourselves and your own opinions based on some of the comments here.
    • FEO GOMEZ (29/04/2021, 07:21) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
      Black people can’t be racist. They don’t control any industry and executive or legislative power to disenfranchise others. Racism goes beyond name calling.
    • omg (30/04/2021, 05:12) Like (23) Dislike (0) Reply
      Ghut man you will be very surprised as to what race of people blogging these racist things. Maybe you are one of them.
      Stay woke black people. By any means possible they are trying to further divide us.
  • @ mad max (28/04/2021, 19:37) Like (0) Dislike (9) Reply
    the CANARIES start SINGING again - that's all ( scotland yard in da house so they have to release some steam or they would implode
  • facts (01/05/2021, 10:08) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The past Governor and the past Head of Police needs to be looked into also.


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