United Kingdom: Boris Johnson's expenses in question, opposition calls for investigation
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the House of Commons, London on April 21, 2021. AFP - JESSICA TAYLOR
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3 min
The Labor opposition called this Sunday April 25 for a "
thorough
"
independent investigation
into
how the Conservative government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson spent British taxpayers' money, after accusations over funding the renovation of his apartment .
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Boris Johnson's ex-right-hand man
Dominic Cummings
this week questioned the integrity of the Prime Minister.
The former special adviser to the government said in an explosive post published on his website that the conservative leader wanted to finance the works of his apartment by private donors.
This Friday, a government minister assured that
Boris Johnson
had assumed the costs "out
of his own pocket
", without however explaining whether he had reimbursed a donor.
The opposition then seized on the issue.
"
We do not know the truth in this argument between two very powerful men who seem more interested in who lies than in the heart of the matter
," Labor MP Jess Phillips said on Sky News Sunday.
What we need is a true independent investigation.
Labor, she said, will ask an urgent question on this matter next week in the House of Commons.
Text message exchanges
Such an investigation should examine "
whether contracts are awarded by text message, whether tax cuts are given by text message or whether the prime minister is using his friends to get money to have his apartment repaired
", detailed Jess Phillips, in reference to an SMS exchange with industrialist James Dyson.
The BBC recently revealed this text exchange in which James Dyson asked Boris Johnson, at the start of the pandemic, to "
settle
" the tax status of his employees who had to come to the UK to make respirators, as requested by the government.
The Prime Minister reportedly replied in March 2020: "
I will settle this tomorrow!"
We need you.
"
►
To read also: United Kingdom: the government organizes the gradual return to normal life
The Election Commission opened an investigation
The Conservative government once again denied all these allegations this Sunday morning.
"
The Prime Minister has covered the costs of renovating his apartment, it is quite clear
", hammered on Sky News the Minister of International Trade Liz Truss, maintaining that he had "
acted in accordance with the rules throughout the process
”.
"
The adequate information was the subject of a public declaration
", added the minister.
This case, according to her, constitutes a "
monumental distraction
" to divert the attention of the British from the "
fantastic work
" done by the government in the face of the Covid-19 epidemic.
The Election Commission, which regulates donations to political parties and their spending, has confirmed it is investigating the case.
►
To read also: AstraZeneca for over 30s: vaccination in the United Kingdom is experiencing a first setback
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