London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jun 20, 2025

BoJo’s lavish residence refurbishment earns Tories hefty fine

BoJo’s lavish residence refurbishment earns Tories hefty fine

The Conservative Party broke funding regulations by failing to properly report a donation spent on refurbishment works at Boris Johnson’s Downing Street residence, the Electoral Commission has said.
After an investigation into the controversial transactions, the commission said the Tories failed to report £52,801.72 (about $70,000) received as part of a larger donation from consultancy firm Huntswood Associates Limited in October 2020. The sum covered the cost of refurbishments at the prime minister’s residence at 11 Downing Street.

The sum was not reported to the Commission itself and not accurately recorded in the party’s own internal documents, the investigation said, indicating “serious failings in the party’s compliance systems.”

The Tories were fined a total of £17,800 ($23,500) over the failures. A spokesperson for the party said it is considering appealing the ruling. A decision on whether to challenge the Commission is to be taken within 28 working days.

A May report by Lord Geidt, the independent adviser on ministers’ interests, said Johnson acted “unwisely” by allowing the refurbishment of his flat to go “without more rigorous regard for how this would be funded.”

The work had been partially paid for by Lord David Brownlow through the firm he controls. The company donated £67,801.72 ($89,500) to the Conservative Party for the purpose of repaying to the Cabinet Office its expenses on the project. Only £15,000 of the sum was disclosed in the party’s Q4 2020 donation report, the Commission said.

Lord Brownlow and government officials apparently had some debate over how much the refurbishment would cost and how it would be paid for. In September, the former secured a promise that no additional work would be done at Johnson’s residence without his prior authorization, the Commission report said.

On the day the donation was made, Lord Brownlow wrote that he would pay the full sum, which “includes the £15,000 you and I have agreed and £52,801.72 to cover payments The Party has made,” on behalf of a trust fund that was due to be created as an intermediary.

There were further payments to the refurbishment supplier that were made by Lord Brownlow personally, but the Commission agreed that they were outside of the scope of their investigation of Tory finances. It said it was satisfied that the party's failures “arose from the party having inadequate systems” for reporting, but stressed that it “does not amount to a reasonable excuse.”
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
Trump Organization Launches 5G Mobile Network and Golden Handset
Towcester Hosts 2025 English Greyhound Derby Amid Industry Scrutiny
Gary Oldman and David Beckham Knighted in King's Birthday Honours
Over 30,000 Lightning Strikes Recorded Across UK During Overnight Storms
Princess of Wales Returns to Public Duties at Trooping the Colour
Red Arrows Use Sustainable Fuel in Historic Trooping the Colour Flypast
Former Welsh First Minister Addresses Unionist Concerns Over Irish Language
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
France Bars Israeli Arms Companies from Paris Defense Expo
King Charles Leads Tribute to Air India Crash Victims at Trooping the Colour
Jack Pitchford Embarks on 200-Mile Walk to Support Stem Cell Charity
Surrey Hikers Take on Challenge of Climbing 11 Peaks in a Single Day
UK Deploys RAF Jets to Middle East Amid Israel-Iran Tensions
Two Skydivers Die in 'Tragic Accident' at Devon Airfield
Sainsbury's and Morrisons Accused of Displaying Prohibited Tobacco Ads
UK Launches National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
Families Seek Closure After Air India Crash
Gold Emerges as Global Safe Haven Amid Uncertainty
Trump Reports $57 Million Earnings from Crypto Venture
Trump's Military Parade Sparks Concerns Over Authoritarianism
Nationwide 'No Kings' Protests Challenge Trump's Leadership
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
Germany Holds First Veterans Celebration Since WWII
U.S. Health Secretary Dismisses CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee
Minnesota Lawmaker Melissa Hortman and Husband Killed in Targeted Attack; Senator John Hoffman and Wife Injured
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
×