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Downing Street refurbishment controversy

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 147.12.252.167 (talk) at 09:44, 3 May 2021 (changed "the press" to "various news organisations"). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Photograph of the entrance to 11 Downing Street

The cash for curtains allegations concern the financing of renovations to 11 Downing Street in March 2020. With the renovations costing £58,000 more than the annual maintenance allowance, the allegations centre around whether an undisclosed loan was used to initially finance that difference. An Electoral Commission inquiry is investigating the financing of this refurbishment, various news organisations referring to this inquiry as the "Cash-for-Curtains" scandal.[1][2][3] [4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

Background

Prime ministers receive an annual allowance of £30,000 to maintain and furnish their private residence above 11 Downing Street. Any expenses above this amount must be covered by themselves.[11] The rennovations cost in excess of £88,000.[12] The ministerial code requires MPs to report loans and donations to the Electoral Commission within 28 days. No such reports for the financing of the refurbishment have been submitted as of May 2021.[13] Electoral Commission rules only allow Party funds to be spent on campaigning, neither the Cabinet Office nor a party donor are permitted to pay for refurbishments.

Allegations

In April 2021, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson's former aide, Dominic Cummings, made allegations that the prime minister had arranged for donors to "secretly pay" for renovations on the private residence at 11 Downing Street.[14]On the 23rd of April 2021, Cummings published a statement on his blog that the plans were "unethical, foolish, possibly illegal" and "almost certainly broke the rules on proper disclosure of political donations if conducted in the way he intended".[15]

Rebuttals

On 23 April 2021, Lord Nicholas True informed the House of Commons that "any costs of wider refurbishment in this year have been met by the prime minister personally".[14][16]

On 28 April 2021, Johnson insisted he had not broken any laws over the refurbishment and had met the requirements he was obliged to meet in full.[17] During Prime Minister's Questions, Keir Starmer also specifically asked "Who initially paid for the redecoration of his Downing Street flat?" and Johnson responded "I paid for Downing Street’s refurbishment personally, Mr. Speaker."[18]

Investigations

On 27 April 2021, Johnson asked the Cabinet Secretary, Simon Case, to hold a review of how the refurbishment was paid for.[19] On 28 April 2021, the Electoral Commission announced it had opened a formal investigation into the allegations.[20][21]

Reactions

Dominic Grieve, former Attorney-General and Conservative Party MP, described Johnson as a "vacuum of integrity" and called on Johnson to explain how the refurbishments were paid for.[22][23]

See also

References

  1. ^ Rayner, Gordon (29 April 2021). "In depth: The gilded makeover of the No 11 flat and Boris Johnson's battle to pay for it". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  2. ^ "Electoral Commission to investigate Boris Johnson's Downing Street flat renovations". BBC News. 28 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Boris Johnson furious as inquiry launched into 'cash for curtains'". The Guardian. 28 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Cash for curtains: will No. 10 refurb inquiry end up costing PM?". The Week. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  5. ^ Ivens, Martin. "Boris Johnson's Wallpaper Is a Gamble on Britain's Class Divisions". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  6. ^ Allegretti, Aubrey. "Boris Johnson furious as inquiry launched into 'cash for curtains'". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  7. ^ Maise, Desné. "DESNÉ MASIE: Could the 'cash for curtains' scandal be the UK's Nkandla?". Business Day. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  8. ^ "BoJo 'Cash for Curtains' scandal: "Why lie and cover up in order to bring gaudy gold wallpaper?"". The Global Herald. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  9. ^ Roberts, Joe. "Boris and Carrie may have to hand over personal emails to 'cash for curtains' inquiry". Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  10. ^ Woodcock, Andrew. "Labour seeks Commons standards probe into Boris Johnson flat funding". The Independent. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  11. ^ "British PM Johnson under pressure over apartment renovation". Reuters. 28 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  12. ^ Rayner, Gordon. "In depth: The gilded makeover of the No 11 flat and Boris Johnson's battle to pay for it". The Telegraph. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  13. ^ Edgington, Tom. "Downing Street flat: What are the rules about political donations?". BBC News. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Downing Street refurbishment: What is the row over Boris Johnson's flat?". BBC News. 28 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  15. ^ Cummings, Dominic. "Statement regarding No10 claims today". Dominic Cummings's Blog. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  16. ^ "Written questions, answers and statements: 10 Downing Street". Parliament of the United Kingdom. 23 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ Wright, Oliver; Swinford, Steven; Zeffman, Henry (29 April 2021). "Downing St concern at 'paper trail' over Boris Johnson's flat redecoration". The Times. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  18. ^ "Commons Chamber 28th April 2021". UK Parliament. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  19. ^ "Boris Johnson's flat: Top official to review funding of revamp". BBC News. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  20. ^ "Electoral Commission to investigate Boris Johnson's Downing Street flat renovations". BBC News. 28 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  21. ^ Allegretti, Aubrey; Elgot, Jessica (28 April 2021). "Electoral Commission launches inquiry into Boris Johnson flat refurb". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  22. ^ Skopeliti, Clea (24 April 2021). "No 10 refurb row: Grieve calls Boris Johnson 'vacuum of integrity'". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  23. ^ Hutchison, Caitlin (24 April 2021). "Dominic Grieve calls Boris Johnson 'vacuum of integrity' in blistering attack on PM". The Herald. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
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