2021 Downing Street refurbishment controversy

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A white building with a black door, with the number eleven on the door
Photograph of the entrance to 11 Downing Street

Financing of renovations to 11 Downing Street in March 2020, costing £58,000 more than the annual maintenance allowance, was subject to a controversy in 2021 when the matter was revealed to the public. The allegations centre around whether an undisclosed loan was used to initially finance that difference. An Electoral Commission inquiry is investigating the financing of this refurbishment, various news organisations referring to this inquiry as the "Cash-for-Curtains" scandal.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

Background[]

Traditionally, the British Prime Minister resides at 10 Downing Street and the Chancellor resides at 11 Downing Street. However, starting with Tony Blair there has been a reversal of this tradition, as the private residential apartment above 11 Downing Street is larger than the one above 10 Downing Street. Following his election in 2019, Boris Johnson and his girlfriend Carrie Symonds decided to reside at Number 11.[8] Johnson hired Soane Britain, an interior design company headed by Lulu Lytle, to redecorate the apartment.[9] Refurbishment began in April 2020, whilst Johnson was hospitalised with COVID-19.[10]

The Prime Minister receives an annual allowance of £30,000 to maintain and furnish their private residence above 11 Downing Street. Any expenses above this amount must be covered by themselves.[11] The renovations cost in excess of £88,000.[12] The Ministerial Code requires members of parliament to report loans and donations to the Electoral Commission within 28 days. No such reports for the financing of the refurbishment have been submitted as of May 2021.[13] Electoral Commission rules only allow Party funds to be spent on campaigning, neither the Cabinet Office nor a party donor are permitted to pay for refurbishments.[citation needed]

Allegations[]

In April 2021, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson's former aide, Dominic Cummings, made allegations that the prime minister had arranged for donors to "secretly pay" for renovations on the private residence at 11 Downing Street.[14] On 23 April 2021, Cummings published a statement on his blog that the plans were "unethical, foolish, possibly illegal" and "almost certainly broke the rules on proper disclosure of political donations if conducted in the way he intended".[15]

Dominic Grieve, former Attorney-General and Conservative Party MP, described Johnson as a "vacuum of integrity" and called on Johnson to explain how the refurbishments were paid for.[16][17] Douglas Ross, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, said that Johnson should resign if the investigations find he has broken the Ministerial Code over the flat renovations.[18][19]

Rebuttals[]

On 23 April 2021, Lord True, Minister of State for the Cabinet Office said in a written answer in the House of Lords that "any costs of wider refurbishment in this year have been met by the prime minister personally".[14][20]

On 28 April 2021, Johnson insisted he had not broken any laws over the refurbishment and had met the requirements he was obliged to meet in full.[21] During Prime Minister's Questions, Keir Starmer also specifically asked "Who initially paid for the redecoration of his Downing Street flat?" and Johnson responded "I paid for Downing Street's refurbishment personally, Mr. Speaker."[22]

Investigations[]

On 27 April 2021, Johnson asked the Cabinet Secretary, Simon Case, to hold a review of how the refurbishment was paid for.[23] On 28 April 2021, the Electoral Commission announced it had opened a formal investigation into the allegations.[24][25]

Lord Geidt's report[]

Lord Geidt was appointed the Independent Adviser on Ministers' Interests in April 2021.[26] On 28 May 2021, Lord Geidt published a report on the allegations, in an annex to the register of interests. The report concluded that Johnson did not breach the Ministerial Code and that no conflict, or reasonably perceived conflict, of interest arose. However, Lord Geidt expressed that it was "unwise" for Johnson to have proceeded with refurbishments without "more rigorous regard for how this would be funded".[27][28]

Criticism[]

Angela Rayner, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, wrote to Lord Geidt asking for evidence of the lack of conflict of interest and said that it was "frankly scarcely believable" that Johnson did not know who was funding the refurbishments.[29][30] In July 2021, Dominic Cummings, former adviser to Johnson, called Geidt's assessment a "Joke" because "Geidt simply didn't ask those who know what happened".[31]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Rayner, Gordon (29 April 2021). "In depth: The gilded makeover of the No 11 flat and Boris Johnson's battle to pay for it". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  2. ^ "Electoral Commission to investigate Boris Johnson's Downing Street flat renovations". BBC News. 28 April 2021. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Boris Johnson furious as inquiry launched into 'cash for curtains'". The Guardian. 28 April 2021. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Cash for curtains: will No. 10 refurb inquiry end up costing PM?". The Week. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  5. ^ Ivens, Martin. "Boris Johnson's Wallpaper Is a Gamble on Britain's Class Divisions". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  6. ^ Allegretti, Aubrey. "Boris Johnson furious as inquiry launched into 'cash for curtains'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  7. ^ Woodcock, Andrew. "Labour seeks Commons standards probe into Boris Johnson flat funding". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  8. ^ Buchan, Lizzy (29 July 2019). "Boris Johnson to move into bigger Downing Street home with girlfriend, leaving Sajid Javid and four children smaller flat at No 10". The Independent. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  9. ^ Grylls, George (20 May 2021). "Boris Johnson flat revamp: Peeling Lulu Lytle wallpaper leaves prime minister out of pocket". The Times. Archived from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  10. ^ "Downing Street refurbishment: What is the row over Boris Johnson's flat?". BBC News. 28 May 2021. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  11. ^ "British PM Johnson under pressure over apartment renovation". Reuters. 28 April 2021. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  12. ^ Rayner, Gordon. "In depth: The gilded makeover of the No 11 flat and Boris Johnson's battle to pay for it". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  13. ^ Edgington, Tom. "Downing Street flat: What are the rules about political donations?". BBC News. Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b "Downing Street refurbishment: What is the row over Boris Johnson's flat?". BBC News. 28 April 2021. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  15. ^ Cummings, Dominic (23 April 2021). "Statement regarding No10 claims today". Dominic Cummings's Blog. Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  16. ^ Skopeliti, Clea (24 April 2021). "No 10 refurb row: Grieve calls Boris Johnson 'vacuum of integrity'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 27 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  17. ^ Hutchison, Caitlin (24 April 2021). "Dominic Grieve calls Boris Johnson 'vacuum of integrity' in blistering attack on PM". The Herald. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  18. ^ Dathan, Matt (2 May 2021). "PM should resign if flat renovation breached code, says Douglas Ross, leader of Scottish Tories". The Times. Archived from the original on 3 May 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  19. ^ Syal, Rajeev (2 May 2021). "Boris Johnson should resign if he broke ministerial code – Scottish Tory leader". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  20. ^ "Written questions, answers and statements: 10 Downing Street". Parliament of the United Kingdom. 23 April 2021. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  21. ^ Wright, Oliver; Swinford, Steven; Zeffman, Henry (29 April 2021). "Downing St concern at 'paper trail' over Boris Johnson's flat redecoration". The Times. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  22. ^ "Commons Chamber 28th April 2021". UK Parliament. Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  23. ^ "Boris Johnson's flat: Top official to review funding of revamp". BBC News. 27 April 2021. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  24. ^ "Electoral Commission to investigate Boris Johnson's Downing Street flat renovations". BBC News. 28 April 2021. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  25. ^ Allegretti, Aubrey; Elgot, Jessica (28 April 2021). "Electoral Commission launches inquiry into Boris Johnson flat refurb". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  26. ^ "Boris Johnson appoints new ministerial standards adviser amid Downing St flat row". BBC News. 28 April 2021. Archived from the original on 28 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  27. ^ Walker, Peter; Allegretti, Aubrey (28 May 2021). "Boris Johnson acted unwisely over flat refurbishment, report finds". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 28 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  28. ^ "Downing Street flat: PM cleared of misconduct but acted unwisely, says watchdog". BBC News. 29 May 2021. Archived from the original on 28 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  29. ^ Skopeliti, Clea (29 May 2021). "Angela Rayner demands detailed answers on Boris Johnson's refurb". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  30. ^ Devlin, Kate (29 May 2021). "Labour demands full details of Downing Street flat renovations". The Independent. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  31. ^ Dominic Cummings, 'Why I went to No10 in summer 2019' (Jul 5, 2021) and statement on Twitter

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