THE SNP have said that there must now be "full disclosure" over Boris Johnson's Downing Street flat renovation after a senior Tory minister was unable to say where the money came from.
International Trade Secretary Liz Truss said the Prime Minister personally met all the costs of the refurbishments and that the details would be declared in "the proper way".
Labour have also called on the Electoral Commission to mount a full investigation after Johnson's former adviser Dominic Cummings (below) claimed the PM tried to get Tory donors to fund the work.
Truss was repeatedly questioned on the No 10 flat by the BBC's Andrew Marr, who suggested that Johnson could have received money from a Tory donor for the renovations beforehand and was asked to agree if this is "unethical and possibly illegal".
READ MORE: Tory sources say war with Dominic Cummings may lead to Boris Johnson's demise
Truss refused to acknowledge there had been any donation for the refurbishments, saying: "What I agree is that the Prime Minister has met the costs, that everything will be declared in line - including for tax purposes - and that's the reassurance the British public want."
Secretary of State Liz Truss insists Boris Johnson paid for renovations to his Downing Street flat "from his own pocket"
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) April 25, 2021
She says, "the Prime Minister has personally met the costs and everything will be declared as it ought to be in the proper way"#Marr https://t.co/kuPvdfo6l2 pic.twitter.com/i0FrRwJPNc
SNP MP Pete Wishart pushed for Johnson to appear before the House of Commons on Monday, to face questions on undeclared Tory donations.
He tweeted: "That was a dreadful, but revealing, interview with Liz Truss. They really are in trouble. There must be an Urgent Question tomorrow now."
That was a dreadful, but revealing, interview with Liz Truss. They really are in trouble. There must be an Urgent Question tomorrow now #Marr
— Pete Wishart (@PeteWishart) April 25, 2021
Truss later appeared on Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday show with host Jayne Secker pointing out that the refurbishment costs have not yet been declared publicly in line with the ministerial code and the only reason any declaration is happening is due to allegations made by Cummings.
Secker pointed out that the register of ministers' interests is supposed to be published twice yearly but the last one was published in July 2020.
Truss maintained that the "the rules have been fully complied with" and Johnson "met the costs" of the flat refurbishment.
.@trussliz is challenged over her suggestion that everything has been declared on the PM's flat refurbishment. @JayneSeckerSky asks: 'How do you know the PM hasn't broken the rules?'
— Sophy Ridge on Sunday (@RidgeOnSunday) April 25, 2021
Ms Truss: "I've been assured the rules have been complied with"#Ridge https://t.co/eNhmTF4N8N pic.twitter.com/ryA5wgpRpC
The SNP's Westminster leader Ian Blackford (below) said that there now must be "full disclosure" over the flat revamp and Johnson's dealings in the matter.
Blackford said: “The longer Boris Johnson stays in hiding and dodges accountability, the more overpowering the stench of sleaze surrounding him and his government becomes.
“There is now growing suspicion that the Prime Minister broke the rules by failing to declare payments for the refurbishment of his Downing Street flat. The Electoral Commission's rules are clear, and it is critical that there is now full disclosure over his dealings.
“The comments from Dominic Cummings that Johnson’s plans to secretly use a Tory donor pay for the renovation were ‘unethical, foolish, possibly illegal and almost certainly broke the rules on proper disclosure of political donations’ raises very serious questions that cannot be brushed under the carpet.
“And his Trade Secretary’s refusal to deny that a Tory donor originally funded it tells you all you need to know about the smoke and mirrors manner in which this corrupt Tory government operates.
“Rather than hiding behind Tory ministers, Boris Johnson must now come before Parliament and answer these very serious questions for himself.
“Whether it is contracts for cronies, donations for decorating, or text messages for tax breaks, it is time for the Tories to put all their dealings into the public domain and let them be properly investigated.”
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon: 'The stench of Tory sleaze is overpowering'
Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner (below) has said the Tories have "serious" questions to answer about a "VIP list" of Tory donors that were awarded lucrative contracts in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.
She said: “There is serious questions now that the Conservatives need to answer around how they’ve dealt with their mates who have been fast-tracked through a VIP list to get contracts.”
Appearing prior to Truss on Marr, Rayner also called on Johnson to appear before MPs on Monday and declare the interests of Tory ministers, which has been delayed.
She said: “The Electoral Commission should be looking into it absolutely and doing a full investigation, especially as you’ve got a former senior adviser to the Prime Minister suggesting that not only was it unethical but he believes it could be illegal as well.
“These are serious allegations and we also think the Prime Minister should come to the House of Commons on Monday and should declare the ministers’ register of interests, which is eight months in delay, we’ve not seen that. Why are they hiding the fact that ministers have to declare these donations and they’ve not done that?
“That’s serious and the list of the VIPs who got contracts who seem to be mates of Tories or Tory donors, this is a real stench around what Government is about.”
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