BORIS Johnson is “living it up like a modern-day Louis the Sixteenth” and must come clean about the details of his flat refurbishment, according to the SNP.
Kirsten Oswald, the party’s deputy leader at Westminster, made the comments after it emerged that a single roll of the wallpaper used in the 11 Downing Street refurb cost £840.
Calls have been made for a review into how the flat refurbishment was financed to be expanded to investigate whether the public was misled over the renovations.
The refurbishment also included a Baby Bear sofa priced at £9800, a Lilly Drum table at £3000 and an armchair worth £5900.
No 10 declined yesterday to deny suggestions that the Prime Minister received a loan from the Conservative Party to cover the initial costs, before repaying the party.
READ MORE: Labour call for investigation into potential ‘cover up’ over Boris Johnson’s flat
Oswald said claims of “impropriety and potential illegality” and concerns over “Tory money laundering” could not be answered satisfactorily unless the full details are released.
“Boris Johnson must finally come clean over his dodgy donor luxury flat refurbishment,” she said.
“Political parties do not exist to pay for home decor, and it is highly unlikely that this is a legitimate use of people’s donations.
“There will be concerns over Tory money laundering, unless these questions are answered satisfactorily.
“This Tory government couldn’t be more out of touch with millions of people across the UK. While many families have been struggling to get by due to Tory cuts and gaps in support, Boris Johnson has been living it up like a modern day Louis the Sixteenth. It absolutely stinks.”
No 10’s claim appears to run contrary to what Johnson’s press secretary at the time, Allegra Stratton, said last month when she denied any party funds were used for refurbishments. Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner urged Cabinet Secretary Simon Case to expand his review to investigate the comments.
She asked him to probe “whether the former press secretary knowingly misled journalists and the public, or was misled herself by senior members of the Government who seem intent on a cover-up”.
The Prime Minister is facing continued questions of how the works were paid for, after former aide Dominic Cummings said Johnson wanted donors to “secretly pay” for the work in an “unethical, foolish, possibly illegal” move.
Johnson’s official spokesman said: “Any costs of the wider refurbishment in No 10 have been met by the Prime Minister and he has acted in accordance with the appropriate codes of conduct and electoral law.”
He was pressed on a denial by the Stratton in a Westminster briefing with journalists on March 8. “Conservative Party funds are not being used to pay for any refurbishment of the Downing Street estate,” she had said.
But asked about suggestions to the contrary yesterday, Johnson’s spokesman said: “I’ve seen the reports and the speculation on that, I’m not going to jump ahead of any potential declarations that need to be made.”
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