Liz Truss blasts Dom Cummings over ‘tittle-tattle’ claim that PM’s flat refurb may have been illegal

A senior Cabinet minister dismissed Dominic Cummings‘ claims about who paid for a six-figure renovation of the Prime Minister’s flat as ‘tittle-tattle’ today.

International Trade Secretary Liz Truss leapt to Boris Johnson‘s defence as she faced the media this morning over allegations from the former aide that the funding of the No11 pad might have been illegal.

Mr Johnson is accused of allowing  Tory donors to contribute thousands towards the estimated £200,000 cost of the work for the flat where he lives with Carrie Symonds and their son Wilfred.

In his bombshell attack on the Government on Friday, Mr Cummings claimed: ‘The PM stopped speaking to me about this matter in 2020 as I told him I thought his plans to have donors secretly pay for the renovation were unethical, foolish, possibly illegal and almost certainly broke the rules on proper disclosure of political donations if conducted in the way he intended. ‘ 

Ms Truss today said the Prime Minister had personally met the costs of the work and she dismissed claims by his former top aide Dominic Cummings as ‘tittle tattle’.

However, she repeatedly refused to say whether Mr Johnson had received the money from a Tory donor or from the party to pay for it and then later reimbursed them.

Labour called on the Electoral Commission to mount a full investigation after Mr Johnson’s former top adviser Dominic Cummings claimed he tried to get Tory donors secretly to fund the work.

Deputy leader Angela Rayner said there was a ‘real stench’ around the Government and called on Mr Johnson to go to Parliament on Monday to explain what happened.

International Trade Secretary Liz Truss leapt to Boris Johnson’s defence as she faced the media this morning over allegations from the former aide that the funding of the No11 pad might have been illegal.

Mr Johnson is accused of allowing Tory donors to contribute thousands towards the estimated £200,000 cost of the work for the flat where he lives with Carrie Symonds and their son Wilfred.

The total cost of the work on the Downing Street flat overhaul is believed to be a six-figure sum

In his bombshell attack on the Government on Friday, Mr Cummings claimed: ‘The PM stopped speaking to me about this matter in 2020 as I told him I thought his plans to have donors secretly pay for the renovation were unethical, foolish, possibly illegal and almost certainly broke the rules on proper disclosure of political donations if conducted in the way he intended’

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‘I have been assured that the rules have been fully complied with and I know that he has met the costs of the flat refurbishment,’ she told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme.

‘I absolutely believe and trust that the Prime Minister has done that.

‘What people want to know is that in line with the rules the Prime Minister has met the cost of this refurbishment. That has happened. All the costs will be declared in line with the rules.

‘That, as far as I am concerned, completely answers that question.’

She went on to accuse programme host Jayne Secker of asking too many questions about the subject of donations when she wanted to discuss international trade as per her job.

‘As I’ve said, these items are declared in line with the Ministerial Code. The Civil Service makes sure that happens, the Prime Minister has met the cost and I’m very surprised that you are using this interview to ask the same question again and again,’ she complained.

On Friday, after Mr Cummings’ blog, Number 10 hit back saying all ‘official advice has been followed’ in relation to the revamp, as a spokesperson tried desperately tried to move focus away from the blazing row by saying the Government was ‘fully focused’ on fighting Covid. 

 The Electoral Commission continues to quiz Conservative chiefs over the flat refit row, which has been dubbed ‘Wallpaper-gate’, involving cash from donors and Conservative Party coffers.

Last  week the Mail revealed leaked emails from Conservative donor Lord Brownlow to Tory Party co-chairman Ben Elliot. 

The emails showed that Lord Brownlow told Mr Elliot last October that he had paid £58,000 to Tory HQ to cover the same amount spent by the party months earlier on the flat refit.

The £58,000 was to be attributed as having come not from Lord Brownlow or the Tory Party but from a ‘soon to be formed Downing St Trust’ that had not yet been formed – and still does not exist, officially.

Well-placed sources said it was proof of an attempt to cover up the way party funds were secretly used to help pay for the refurbishment of Mr Johnson and his fiancee Carrie Symonds’ Number 11 Downing Street official flat. The makeover, which included expensive wallpaper, by interior designer Lulu Lytle reportedly cost a six-figure sum.