BORIS Johnson is refusing to reveal who paid for his latest holiday amid reports he’s staying at a Tory Lord’s villa.
The Prime Minister has jetted off to the Costa del Sol to stay in a “luxury” complex near Marbella.
His official spokesperson refused to be drawn on reports that the Tory leader was staying at the villa of Environment Minister Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park, or to say whether he had paid for the holiday himself.
"Any declarations that need to be made will be made in the normal way, but I don't have anything to add to that,” they commented.
“I wouldn't get into anything on location for security reasons.”
Downing Street insisted that Johnson is continuing to work on Government business while on holiday following the Conservative Party conference last week.
His spokesperson said that he had taken a call from Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and was being updated on the work to address supply chain problems.
"The Prime Minister continues to be in charge as is always the case. The Prime Minister has taken calls with leaders already and there will be others to follow," the spokesperson told reporters.
"The Prime Minister has been kept regularly updated on the ongoing work to address the current issues around fuel and supply chains.
"He is in regular contact with ministers and No 10. He is also continuing to take calls particularly in the run-up to COP26."
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Johnson was only recently cleared of breaking the MPs’ code of conduct over a trip in early 2019 to the Caribbean island of Mustique.
He faced an investigation into whether he adequately registered £15,000 worth of accommodation paid for by a Tory donor.
Earlier, Home Office minister Damian Hinds defended the Prime Minister’s decision to go on holiday, his second in three months.
Asked if now was the right time for a break, he told Sky News: “When is the right time? I think it is important that people do have an opportunity to be with their families to have some relaxing, unwinding.
“But I wouldn’t want to overstate the amount of unwinding and relaxing you get to do as Prime Minister because as I say you are constantly in touch, you are constantly being briefed and you remain in charge of the Government.”
Hinds added: “What is important for the rest of us actually, for the whole country, is that the Prime Minister does get to have some family time, does get to have a break.”
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