A former civil service head today lashed Boris Johnson over a lavish £60,000 refurbishment of his Downing Street flat - amid warnings he could face a serious sanction for failing to register a loan.
Lord O Donnell said transparency over the murky arrangements was very late , warning that PMs need to set an example and obey the rules .
Conservative chiefs are believed to have secretly approved a £58,000 payment to the Cabinet Office in July last year to cover the works - which was on top of the £30,000 annual sum for upkeep that the taxpayer foots.
However, the government has insisted that the premier has now funded the overhaul himself. Downing Street has refused to deny reports that Mr Johnson secured a loan from a Tory donor – believed to be financier Lord Brownlow – to pay for the decor.
Fresh sources have come out and confirmed claims that the PM made crass comment on lockdown deaths
Boris Johnson is also facing further questions over the £58,000 redecoration of his Downing Street flat
Also revealed he texted Dominic Cummings last year to exonerate him over notorious chatty rat leak inquiry
The PM will chair a cabinet meeting today where he will try to steer the political agenda away from scandals
A Cabinet minister has said she will take Boris Johnson “on his word” after the Prime Minister denied saying he was prepared to let “bodies pile high” rather than order a third coronavirus lockdown.
It comes amid fresh allegations that Mr Johnson told aides he would rather let coronavirus “rip” than return to restrictions in September, as he battles a bitter briefing war that engulfed Number 10.
A growing number of sources were reported to have told how Mr Johnson said he was prepared to let “bodies pile high” rather than order a third shutdown, an accusation which the Prime Minister has branded as “total rubbish”.
Updated: 27 Apr 2021, 15:59
Harry Cole
Invalid Date,
BORIS Johnson hit back at Dominic Cummings last night branding leaks that claimed the PM made a sick slur over the Covid crisis as “lies”.
13
Boris Johnson has been accused of saying he d rather see bodies pile high in their thousands than lockdown the UK againCredit: PA
13
Mr Cummings’ boast that he was cleared of being the No 10 leaker was shot downCredit: AFP
Even MI5 is baffled over the identity of the “source or sources”.
A senior official admitting the culprit may never be caught.
Cabinet Secretary Simon Case was hauled before MPs to explain why whoever leaked news of the planned November lockdown dubbed the “chatty rat” had still not been caught.
A Cabinet minister has said she will take Boris Johnson “on his word” after the Prime Minister denied saying he was prepared to let “bodies pile high” rather than order a third coronavirus lockdown.
It comes amid fresh allegations that Mr Johnson told aides he would rather let coronavirus “rip” than return to restrictions in September, as he battles a bitter briefing war that engulfed Number 10.
A growing number of sources were reported to have told how Mr Johnson said he was prepared to let “bodies pile high” rather than order a third shutdown, an accusation which the Prime Minister has branded as “total rubbish”.