Friday, 15 Nov 2024

Boris Johnson's Caribbean holiday was 'worth double the £15,000 declared'

Boris Johnson’s holiday to Mustique was worth more than double the £15,000 he declared to the Commons, a parliamentary watchdog is said to believe.

Earlier this week it emerged the Prime Minister was under investigation to see if he broke funding rules over his ten-day trip to the Caribbean with fiancée Carrie Symonds.

Recording the holiday in the Commons register of MPs’ interests, he said the break was courtesy of Carphone Warehouse founder David Ross, who was said to own a holiday villa on the island.

But a spokesman for the businessman denied he paid for the trip, over the New Year in 2020, and initially suggested the PM had made ‘a mistake’.

This has since been confirmed by Parliament’s Commissioner for Standards Kathryn Stone, who delivered her damning verdict to the Tory leader months ago, according to the Daily Mail.

The revelation will heap further pressure on Johnson as he faces various investigations into whether he properly declared any donations to cover the lavish refurbishments of his official flat.

Downing Street insisted the Prime Minister ‘transparently declared the benefit in kind’ of the luxury Caribbean holiday, and noted that Mr Ross confirmed the declaration is ‘correct’.

The Commissioner for Standards confirmed this week she is still investigating whether Johnson properly declared the holiday on the private island 16 months ago.

In the Register of Members’ Interests, the Prime Minister declared the trip with fiancee Carrie Symonds as a ‘benefit in kind’ from the Carphone Warehouse founder who has a villa on the island.

But the Mail said Ms Stone believes the break was worth more than twice the declared £15,000.

Johnson was said to have refused to accept the ruling and is trying to have it overturned to avoid the risk of being suspended as an MP.

A Downing Street spokesman said: ‘The PM transparently declared the benefit in kind in the Commons Register of Interests. The Cabinet Office was aware of the declaration and was content it was appropriate.

‘A spokesman for Mr Ross confirmed the PM’s declaration is correct and the accommodation was facilitated as a donation in kind.’

This week, a spokesman for Mr Ross said in a statement: ‘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.’

Do you have a story you would like to share? Contact [email protected]

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Source: Read Full Article

Related Posts