Cash for curtains: how damaging are the allegations involving Boris Johnson? –podcast

For months, information has been leaked to the press from inside Downing Street, including allegations Boris Johnson was given the cash – which has not yet been published in any declarations – to do up his official residence. The Guardian columnist Rafael Behr discusses how damaging this could be for the prime minister

The Guardian columnist Rafael Behr talks to Rachel Humphreys about the latest allegations surrounding Boris Johnson. There has been a series of damaging leaks over the past few months. They include text messages sent by Sir James Dyson asking Johnson for help so that his employees would not have to pay extra tax if they came to the UK to make ventilators during the pandemic, to which Johnson replied: “I will fix it tomo!”; a text to the prime minister from the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman; leaked emails about donations solicited to cover the renovations of the prime minister’s flat; and claims Johnson said last October he would rather see bodies pile up than order another lockdown.

Behr discusses the suggestion that the former No 10 adviser Dominic Cummings is behind the leaks, which he denies. On Thursday, the Electoral Commission announced it would investigate the funding of the PM’s flat refurbishment. Behr examines how damaging these stories are for Johnson and the Conservative party, coming a week before local elections.

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from The Guardian https://ift.tt/3vqPhlb