Top civil servant will be quizzed over refurbishment of Boris Johnson’s Downing Street flat – which the PM ‘had to take out a loan to pay for’
- Cabinet Secretary Simon Case to be grilled over Dominic Cummings’ allegations
- Also expected to face questions about refurbish of flat above No11 Downing St
- Comes amid claims the PM has had to take out a personal loan to pay for it
Britain’s top civil servant will be quizzed over the lavish refurbishment of Boris Johnson’s Downing Street flat today amid claims that the Prime Minister has had to take out a personal loan to pay for it.
Cabinet Secretary Simon Case will be grilled by MPs this afternoon about a string of explosive allegations made by Dominic Cummings.
Mr Case is expected to deny claims that he cleared Mr Cummings over involvement in the ‘chatty rat’ leak last year, which led to revelations in the Daily Mail that Mr Johnson was poised to order a second national lockdown.
It has been suggested Prime Minister Boris Johnson has had to take out a personal loan to pay for the work to the flat he shares with Carrie Symonds
A government source said last night the inquiry, conducted with the assistance of MI5, was ongoing, adding: ‘It has neither found anyone responsible, nor ruled anyone out.’
But Mr Case is also expected to face detailed questions about the refurbishment of the flat above No 11 Downing Street used by Mr Johnson and his fiancee Carrie Symonds.
Cabinet Secretary Simon Case will be questioned by MPs this afternoon
Adding to the controversy, one senior Tory said last night: ‘Boris had to take out a personal loan to cover the cost. You have to be pretty wealthy to have £60,000 lying around. He has just emerged from an expensive divorce.’
The Electoral Commission said yesterday it was still seeking answers from Tory chiefs about whether party funds or donations were used.
Labour last night wrote to the commission calling for a full investigation. On Friday, Mr Cummings said Mr Johnson wanted ‘donors to secretly pay for the renovation’ – which he said was ‘unethical, foolish, possibly illegal and almost certainly broke the rules’.
The Mail had revealed that Mr Johnson asked Tory donors to help with the cost of the makeover which is said to run to six figures.
The Electoral Commission says it is still seeking answers from Tory chiefs about whether party funds or donations were used in the refurb (pictured)
On Friday, the Cabinet Office said the cost of ‘painting, sanding and floorboards’ had been paid from a £30,000 maintenance allowance, but ‘any costs of wider refurbishment have been met by the Prime Minister personally’.
Trade Secretary Liz Truss said the claims made by Mr Cummings were ‘tittle-tattle’ and the PM had ‘met the cost of the flat’.
Downing Street made no comment last night.