‘Nothing untoward’ about Boris Johnson discussing coverage with Tory donor who paid for his flat refurb, minister says

There may be “nothing untoward” about Boris Johnson discussing coverage with a Tory donor who pair for his flat refurb, a authorities minister has stated.

Labour has referred to as for a brand new requirements commissioner investigation into the prime minister after textual content messages emerged between him and Lord Brownlow.

The conversations present the PM referred to as elements of his Downing Road residence a “tip” and promised to look into the donor’s proposal for a “nice exhibition” whereas negotiating funds for the refurb.

Mr Johnson on Thursday apologised for not giving the texts to his unbiased ethics advisor through the course of a earlier probe – as opposition deputy chief Angela Rayner referred to as for a contemporary inquiry.

In a media look on Friday morning enterprise minister Paul Scully was requested whether or not the dialog amounted to corruption.

“Ministers get proposals on a regular basis and what rightly occurred was that this acquired pushed on to the Tradition, Media and Sport Division (DCMS) the place it sits,” Mr Scully informed Occasions Radio.

“Lord Brownlow made his personal approaches and it wouldn’t have simply gone to the Prime Minister, however the essential factor is it’s not gone forward… so there’s nothing untoward that’s occurring out of, you realize, a number of traces in a WhatsApp.”

Labour in the meantime stated “cosy textual content messages” between Mr Johnson and Lord Brownlow raised questions on “money for entry”.

The get together has stated Commons Requirements Commissioner Kathryn Stone ought to examine.

Steve Reed, the shadow justice secretary, informed BBC Radio 4’s As we speak programme: “They matter immensely as a result of Lord Brownlow seems to have entry to the Prime Minister as a result of he was paying for the flat renovations.

“If that’s the case, that’s corruption. And what we’re seeing here’s a case of probably money for entry the place Lord Brownlow was given entry to ministers to try to affect them over choices of spending taxpayers’ cash – that’s the reason this issues so immensely.

“These very cosy textual content messages present there was a quid professional quo in operation between the Prime Minister and Lord Brownlow, and we have to get to absolutely the backside of this.”

Requested whether or not it’s nonetheless an issue because the Nice Exhibition was not given the go-ahead, Mr Reed replied: “The difficulty will not be whether or not it occurred, it’s whether or not wealthy folks pays to get entry to Authorities ministers to try to affect them over how they determine to spend taxpayers’ cash.”