Boris Johnson faces investigation over who paid for £15k Caribbean holiday
10 May 2021, 11:34 | Updated: 10 May 2021, 20:09
Boris Johnson is under investigation by a parliamentary watchdog over a £15k holiday to the Caribbean.
The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, which investigates allegations and complaints against MPs, has launched a probe into whether the Prime Minister broke the rules with his trip to the island of Mustique over the New Year in 2020.
He declared the stay in a luxury villa was a "benefit in kind" - donated by Carphone Warehouse co-founder David Ross - on the House of Commons’ register of members’ interests.
But the businessman later told reporters he had only helped put Mr Johnson in touch with companies providing accommodation, insisting he is not the owner of the villa and had not paid for the trip.
It follows weeks of allegations of "Tory sleaze" and questions over who originally paid for the refurbishment of Mr Johnson's Downing Street flat and who was allegedly asked to pay for his childcare.
No10 has insisted that Boris Johnson "transparently declared" his new year break.
The PM's official spokesman said: "The Prime Minister transparently declared the benefit in kind in the Commons register of interests."
Asked if the Government believe that the public think the rules matter, the spokesman said: "Clearly the rules are set out and it's important that everyone abides by them, as the Prime Minister has done throughout."
