Parliamentary watchdog launches investigation into Boris Johnson’s Caribbean holiday
2 min read
The Parliamentary watchdog has launched an investigation into the Prime Minister’s luxury Caribbean holiday.
Questions remain over who footed the bill for the villa on Mustique where Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds spent their Christmas and New Year break.
In the House of Commons register of interests, the PM said the £15,000 stay on the private island had been donated by millionaire Tory supporter and former deputy chairman of Carphone Warehouse David Ross.
But Mr Ross has since denied paying for the villa, with his spokesperson telling the Daily Mail last month: "Boris wanted some help to find somewhere in Mustique, David called the company who run all the villas and somebody had dropped out.
"So Boris got the use of a villa that was worth £15,000, but David Ross did not pay any money whatsoever for this."
In a further statement the spokesperson insisted the arrangement was above board.
"Following media reports I would like to provide further explanation of the benefit in kind Mr Ross provided to Mr Johnson," he said.
"Mr Ross facilitated accommodation for Mr Johnson on Mustique valued at £15,000.
"Therefore this is a benefit in kind from Mr Ross to Mr Johnson, and Mr Johnson's declaration to the House of Commons is correct."
But the Shadow Cabinet Office Minister Jon Trickett wrote to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Kathryn Stone, asking her “to investigate whether the Prime Minister has followed all transparency requirements when registering this donation.”
He added: "This case has added significance not only because of Mr Johnson’s pre-eminent public role as Prime Minister, but because in April 2019 he had to apologise to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards and the Committee on Standards for failing to declare expenses correctly."
In response Ms Stone initiated a probe on Wednesday, the Observer reports, the first time a sitting PM has faced such an inquiry.
If a “serious breach of the rules or identifies an issue of wider concern” is uncovered by her, a report will be forwarded to the committee on standards and a potential penalty considered.
But Downing Street has inisted “all transparency requirements have been followed as set out in the register of members’ financial interests” in the reporting of the holiday.
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