AN SNP MP has accused the Tory Government of being a "sleekit, grubby cabal" over allegations of cronyism in the handling of Covid contracts.
The SNP have called for a full independent public inquiry into why Tory donors and friends have been handed lucrative contracts, special access, tax breaks and peerages by the Tory Government.
Alison Thewliss, MP for Glasgow Central, raised an Urgent Question today in the House of Commons, calling for the UK Government to hold an independent inquiry into claims of cronyism and into the refurbishment of Boris Johnson's home in Downing Street.
It comes after Johnson's former senior aide Dominic Cummings made a series of revelations on Friday including that he thought "secret" plans for the renovation of the flat, said to have cost around £58,000, were "unethical, foolish and possibly illegal".
It is reported that Johnson was considering setting up a trust to fund the work, with Tory donors paying in to it. It has also been reported that the work was paid for by the Conservative party, following a donation to the party of a similar amount by a wealthy donor.
Johnson is thought to have repaid the money spent on the revamp.
READ MORE: Scots risk being anaesthetised to sleaze amid endless Tory scandals
The Government has said that Johnson paid for the revamp "out of his own pocket", but Labour insists he must explain how he obtained the money.
Addressing Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove today, Thewliss said: "From the contracts to the Health Secretary’s pub landlord to the cosy chumocracy of the Greensill Capital affair to the casual text messages between the Prime Minister and Sir James Dyson promising to fix tax issues apparently in exchange for ventilators we never even got, and now questions over the Prime Minister’s funding for feathering his Downing Street nest.
“I wonder if the minister will agree with me that this is a clear pattern of behaviour and it absolutely stinks. This UK Tory Government is about to prorogue this House to duck further scrutiny.
“In the absence of an independent adviser to investigate ministers, we can no longer trust them to investigate themselves and that much is clear so will the minister for the Cabinet Office instead instruct a full independent public inquiry to get to the bottom of this sleekit, grubby cabal in charge of the UK?"
Gove replied: It is the case that the government, operating at a time when the pandemic was raging, did everything possible and we make no apology for it, to make sure that those at the frontline got the equipment that they deserved.
"The techniques that we used and the processes that we followed not only stand up to scrutiny, they were the same techniques and the same process used by the Welsh Government, by the Scottish Government, and by the Northern Ireland, executive."
Labour's shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Rachel Reeves, has written to Gove calling on the Government to publish all communications between ministers and business contacts with links to Covid contracts.
As the Tory sleaze scandal continues to unfold, Labour are demanding the government publishes all communications between Ministers linked to those who won Covid contracts.
— Rachel Reeves (@RachelReevesMP) April 26, 2021
The secrecy around crony contracts and the VIP fast lane must stop. https://t.co/AqmHuOUl7o
Reeves said: “Under the increasing spread of Tory sleaze, knowing how exposed some of our frontline staff were during the height of the pandemic without proper PPE, but also that Tory friends and donors were being awarded £2 billion worth of contracts creates increasingly serious questions for government.
“The government have long rejected Labour’s call for basic transparency by publishing the VIP fast lane, but this cannot go on given new revelations of corruption risk, and of companies without proper certification being allowed to jump the queue.
“As we are still missing an independent advisor on ministerial standards, and a Register of Ministers’ Interests, the Government must require ministers to publish openly and with full transparency, communications between them and those businesses who have won contracts since the pandemic begun and emergency procurement was introduced.
“Otherwise it’s increasingly clear that it is one set of rules for Ministers and their close friends, and another for everyone else.”
Johnson will also probed by tax authorities over the £58,000 refurbishment of his flat.
HMRC is seeking “clarification” over where the cash came from and whether it should have been declared, according to the i newspaper.
Tax chiefs told the paper that the Tory leader will be “treated like any other taxpayer” as they set out to establish if he “derived any benefit in kind” from the revamp at 11 Downing Street.
READ MORE: Boris Johnson to be quizzed by HMRC over Downing Street flat refurbishment
A source stressed there is no formal investigation into Johnson’s personal finances, adding: “Things like this are declared by UK taxpayers all the time and it is the role of HMRC to clarify with people if these are subject to tax. The Prime Minister is no different to anyone else in this regard.”
Reports have suggested the £58,000 came from a Conservative Party donor. If that was the case, and the funds were paid into a financial trust, the tax authorities should have been informed.
HMRC pointed out its request for clarification does not imply the PM failed to declare a tax payment he should have.
Fiona Fernie, a tax disputes and resolution partner at tax and advisory firm Blick Rothenberg, told i: “HMRC will always look for clarification if there is a chance that money wouldn’t have been received by someone unless it was because of the position they were in. HMRC would not want to be seen not to seek clarification from the Prime Minister when it would from anyone else.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel