British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was called to order Thursday, December 9, over the costly renovation of his Downing Street home, funded by a private donation. The electoral commission, which regulates the accounts of political parties, imposed a fine of 16,250 pounds (nearly 19,000 euros) on Boris Johnson’s party, the Conservative Party, for failing to declare the total amount of a donation received for finance this renovation. The electoral commission added a further fine, of 1,550 pounds (approximately 1,800 euros), for violating the obligation to keep proper accounting records.
The commission launched an investigation in April to examine possible breaches related to the work carried out in the apartment Boris Johnson occupies with his wife Carrie Symonds and their son – joined by their daughter, whose birth was announced Thursday – at 11 Downing Street, more spacious than 10, seat of its official residence.
Boris Johnson said he followed the rules
She concluded on Thursday that the Conservative Party received a donation of £ 67,801.72 (or over € 79,000) from Huntswood Associates Limited, a company run by a party close to the party, in October 2020, “Including 52,801.72 pounds [près de 62 000 euros] dwere to cover the cost of three invoices relating to the renovation of Downing Street ”. Of this amount, only £ 15,000 was declared as a donation by the party. Gold, “The total amount of 67,801.72 pounds was a donation and should have been reported to the commission”, underlined the latter.
Attacked by the opposition on the funding of this work, Boris Johnson assured Parliament last April that he had “Personally paid for the renovation”, without specifying that he had received a donation then reimbursed. He said he followed the rules. “The Prime Minister acted according to the rules at all times”, and he did “All the necessary declarations”, said his spokesperson on Thursday.
In May, a report by the government adviser responsible for ensuring compliance with the ministerial code of conduct concluded that the British Prime Minister had renovated the apartment of “Reckless manner”, without worrying about the financing of the works, but that he had however not made a mistake.
Already questioned for its dangerous connections with the business world, the government of Boris Johnson is also in turmoil following press reports reporting a party organized shortly before Christmas 2020 in Downing Street, in defiance of the restrictions put in place against the Covid-19 pandemic.
