Civil servant leading review into Boris Johnson’s flat refurbishment ‘found out about plans in news’

Boris Johnson failed to tell his most senior civil servant about the plans for his Downing Street refurbishment to be paid for by a charitable trust, according to reports.

Simon Case, who was appointed cabinet secretary in September, only discovered about the controversial plans in the newspaper.

The mandarin is now conducting a review and leading the fallout from the £200,000 refurbishment plans which Dominic Cummings claimed ‘almost certainly broke the rules’.

Simon Case, who was appointed cabinet secretary in September, only discovered about the controversial plans in the newspaper

The Prime Minister has insisted he met the cost himself but has refused to say whether initial bills were paid by donors.  

An Electoral Commission investigation is currently underway into allegations that donors were asked to pay for a redecoration of the flat Mr Johnson, 56, shares with fiancee Carrie Symonds and their son.

Case, who is leading a separate internal review, first learned of Johnson’s plans after reading an article on February 27 which revealed the prime minister’s alleged plans to ask Conservative donors to pay for the costs of the redecoration, The Times reports.

He then discovered that Lord Brownlow of Shurlock Row, a multimillionaire Tory donor, would become the chairman of a trust and had already offered trustee positions to members of the House of Lords. 

The Prime Minister has insisted he met the cost himself but has refused to say whether initial bills were paid by donors

Brownlow had consulted Baroness Jay of Paddington, the former Lords leader and daughter of prime minister James Callaghan, and Lord Powell of Bayswater, a former adviser to Margaret Thatcher.

Powell said he received a call from Brownlow on February 11 but details were initially scant.

He claims Brownlow did not mention the trust might organist the redecoration of the private residence and said he did not know how it would be funded.

Jay said she was told it was the public part of Downing Street that would benefit from the refurbishment, not the private residence.

A Cabinet Office spokesman confirmed that Case did not know anything about the plans until late February, saying: ‘He met Lord Powell and Baroness Jay on March 11 to discuss the facts around the trust. They did not discuss matters relating to historic funding. 

‘Cabinet Office officials have been engaged and informed throughout and official advice has been followed.’

Case first learned of Johnson’s plans after reading an article on February 27 which revealed the prime minister’s alleged plans of a refurbishment inspired by the designer Lulu Lytle (her designs pictured)

The revelations come after Downing Street refused to deny claims that Tory donors were asked to stump up cash to pay for a nanny to look after Johnson‘s son.

The Prime Minister again found himself under fire over claims that he sought financial help to fund childcare for Wilfred, one.   

Reports at the weekend cited a donor who said they had been approached, saying: ‘I don’t mind paying for leaflets but I resent being asked to pay to literally wipe the Prime Minister’s baby’s bottom.’

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman told reporters today that Mr Johnson had covered all the costs for childcare for his one-year-old son Wilfred himself.

However the spokesman refused to be drawn on whether the PM had previously approached supporters to pay for a nanny.

It prompted another furious attack by Labour, urging No10 to come clean on his dealings with Tory donors.

The Prime Minister again found himself under fire over claims that he sought financial help to fund childcare for Wilfred, one.

An Electoral Commission investigation is currently underway into allegations that donors were asked to pay for an expensive redecoration of the flat Mr Johnson, 56, shares with fiancee Carrie Symonds and their son.

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner called on Mr Johnson and the Conservative Party to publish all correspondence relating to his attempts to get Tory donors to fund his lifestyle.

‘We are seeing what looks like another cover up from the Prime Minister, who is trying to hide his attempts to fund his lifestyle through secret payments from wealthy Tory donors,’ she said.

‘Boris Johnson forcing his MPs to vote against free school meals and making stealth cuts to schools at the same time as asking Tory donors to pay for his own childcare is yet more evidence that it’s one rule for him and his mates, another for everyone else.

‘What did these donors expect in return for their generosity, and what were they promised?’

In response, Mr Johnson’s spokesman said: ‘The Prime Minister has covered the costs of all childcare.

‘I have nothing more to add to that. I am not going to be getting into any more detail.’