London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jun 25, 2026

Corruption? UK PM’s party collected £500k from disgraced Lord granted peerage

Corruption? UK PM’s party collected £500k from disgraced Lord granted peerage

A Conservative member of the House of Lords, whose peerage was forced through last year by the embattled United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson aka ‘Boris’ despite his role in a cash-for-access scandal, has handed the prime minister's party half a million pounds.

According to Business Insider on June 3, 2021, Lord Peter A. Cruddas donated £500,000 to the Conservative Party's central office on February 5, 2021, only three days after he was introduced into the House of Lords where he now sits as a Conservative peer, the latest Electoral Commission records show.

Johnson undermines vetting process


Businessman and philanthropist Cruddas was nominated to become a member of the House of Lords by Mr Johnson in December 2020, despite objections from the House of Lords Appointments Commission, an independent group that vets nominations.

The Appointments Commission was unable to support the nomination owing to concerns over allegations made following an investigation by undercover reporters from the Sunday Times after he offered them access to the then Prime Minister David W.D. Cameron in exchange for £250,000 in donations.

Johnson's decision to overrule the Appointments Commission was the first time their advice had been overruled.

The UK PM, already facing allegations of corruption and cronyism, including over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and awarding of PPE contracts, has been heavily criticised for collecting monies from Cruddas.

A separate rule for Johnson’s party?


The opposition Labour Party said the donation raised serious questions.

"The Conservative Party that brought us allegations of cash for access when Peter Cruddas was Treasurer seems to have turned its attention to peerages," Anneliese Dodds MP, Labour Party Chair, said in a statement.

"Whether it's handing out taxpayers' money to their mates or giving peerages to disgraced donors, there is always one rule for the Conservatives and their chums and another for the rest of us."

Professor Liz David-Barrett at the University of Sussex's Centre for the Study of Corruption said: "This is yet another example of the Prime Minister disregarding advice from the public bodies that are there to uphold standards in public life, in this case ignoring the fact that Peter Cruddas is understood to have failed the vetting process. That completely undermines these public bodies and puts the UK on a very slippery slope of declining standards.

"We will never know whether there is a link between political donations and elevations to the Lords, because those conversations happen in secret. But in this case, the timing will lead people to draw the conclusion that there is a link," David-Barret said.

Boris scandals


The Johnson’s United Kingdom (UK) government has maliciously frowned upon the [British] Virgin Islands as corrupt and has sponsored a Commission of Inquiry called by controversial ex-governor of the VI and buddy of PM Johnson, Augustus J. U. Jaspert, in the height of the global coronavirus pandemic.

Johnson; however, has been dodging a CoI into alleged corruption and negligence in his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Scandals; however, continue to mount against Johnson.

QZ.com listed some of them in April 2021.

The furniture at 11 Downing Street


Britain’s Electoral Commission, a powerful independent body that regulates political finances and decides how elections should be run, announced on April 28, 2021, that it is investigating Johnson over who paid for the furniture in his apartment at 11 Downing Street, next door to the UK’s seat of power. It’s not exactly Watergate, but it could be damaging.

On his blog, Cummings alleged that Johnson had a “possibly illegal” plan for political donors to pay for renovations, over and above the £30,000 ($42,000) all prime ministers get for home improvements. All donations must be accounted for, and comply with strict rules. Today, the prime minister claimed he’d “personally…covered the costs.”

But his worst crime, for some voters at least, may be that he and his partner reportedly disparaged the decor left by his predecessor, Theresa M. May. The furniture was from John Lewis, the British middle class’s favorite department store, and neither cheap nor poor quality.

The “pile of bodies” in the wake of Covid-19


The UK was slow, and the government reluctant, to impose a second national lockdown in October 2020. Multiple sources reported this week that Johnson said he’d rather see “bodies pile high in their thousands” than restrict the country again. He denied saying it.

The official UK Covid-19 death toll stands at more than 152,000.

The European Super League


Johnson led the UK out of Europe, building up a huge amount of political capital with Brexit voters. He also stridently opposed plans for a European Super League, the universally criticised soccer tournament that was over before it began.

But it later emerged that he had met Ed Woodward, the executive vice-chairman of one of the rebel teams, Manchester United, in a corridor at 10 Downing Street, days before the league was announced. This raised questions about how much the prime minister knew before the explosive plans were revealed, and whether he’d actually supported it before the backlash became apparent.

The vacuum cleaner magnate


At the start of the pandemic, the prime minister needed to secure ventilators for the UK. It’s no surprise that he went to James Dyson, of vacuum cleaner fame, a Brexit ally and one of Britain’s best-known innovators.

The problem was that Dyson wanted to make sure his workers were not liable for additional taxes for coming to the UK, and texted Johnson directly to ask him what could be done “in support of this national emergency.” The response from Johnson? “I will fix it.”

To avoid possible corruption, there are rules that govern lobbying, and also the way that such requests ought to be communicated. Most people can’t just text the prime minister, even if there’s no material gain, as in this case. It never looks good when leaders make secret promises to billionaires. And in the end, the UK didn’t even need Dyson ventilators.

Conservative Party donor Peter A. Cruddas is sworn in to the House of Lords at a ceremony of introduction at the House of Lords, London. Picture date: Tuesday February 2, 2021.

The Johnson’s United Kingdom (UK) government has maliciously frowned upon the [British] Virgin Islands as corrupt and has sponsored a Commission of Inquiry called by controversial ex-governor of the VI and buddy of PM Boris Johnson, Augustus J. U. Jaspert, right, in the height of the global coronavirus pandemic.

Scandals continue to mount against United Kingdom Prime Minister Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson aka ‘Boris’.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
UK Financial Services Reform Debate Intensifies Over Ministerial Regulatory Powers
UK Energy Price Cap Rise Expected to Keep Inflation Above Target Through 2026
UK Biohacking and AI Wellness Trends Drive Surge in Personal Health Monitoring
UK Social Care Sector Sees Workforce Shift as Overseas Recruitment Masks Domestic Labour Decline
Nuffield Trust Warns UK Health Budgets Remain Vulnerable Despite Record Spending Levels
UK Coal Pension Surplus Debate Returns to Parliament as Reform UK MP Seeks Clarity on Distribution
UK MPs Consider E-Petition Calling for NHS Newborn Screening for Spinal Muscular Atrophy
UK Parliament Debates E-Petition Calling for Inquiry Into Pro-Israel Influence in Politics
UK Economy Grew 0.6 Percent in Q1 2026 but Business Sentiment Weakens Over Geopolitical Risks
UK Financial Services Bill Enters Lords Committee Stage With Expanded Ministerial Powers
UK Armed Forces Bill Advances With Plans for Defence Housing Service and Drone Defence Measures
UK Treasury Proposes Higher Electricity Generator Levy and Updated Mileage Allowance Rules
UK Parliament Debates Health Bill Amid Persistent GP Access and Patient Satisfaction Concerns
UK Financial Sanctions Regulator Signals Faster, Intelligence-Led Enforcement Strategy
British Chambers of Commerce Warns Business Confidence Crisis Is Dampening UK Investment
UK Parliament Debates Carbon Budget Order as Pressure Mounts on Net Zero Delivery
UK Energy Price Volatility Reinforces Pressure for Faster Electrification of Economy
UK Defence and Aerospace Strategy Gains Momentum as Keir Starmer Pushes Industrial Cooperation in Berlin
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Unveils £53 Million Investment in Farming Innovation
Foreign Secretary Announces Medical Evacuations and University Support for Palestinians in Gaza
Government-Commissioned Report Highlights Economic Exposure to Climate-Driven Fossil Fuel Price Shocks
Climate Change Committee Warns UK Is Off Track on Emissions Cuts and Calls for Faster Decarbonisation
Prime Minister Keir Starmer Calls for Deeper UK-EU Defence and Industrial Cooperation in Berlin Address
Met Office Issues Red Extreme Heat Warning as Temperatures Set to Surpass 37°C in England and Wales
Bank of England Holds Interest Rates at 3.75% as Inflation Outlook Remains Uncertain
UK Announces New Military Infrastructure at Catterick to Support Engineer Regiment Relocation
University of Reading Ranked Among Top 100 Globally for Sustainability Impact
UK Launches Counter-Fraud Taskforce to Investigate Covid Loan Scams
UK Government Introduces Customs and Tax Reforms to Support High Street Retailers
Jonathan Haskel Nominated as Chair of the UK Office for Budget Responsibility
UK Government Expands Powers to Recover Benefit Debt and Tackle Welfare Fraud
Labour Party Leadership Contest Intensifies as Andy Burnham and Ed Miliband Clash Over Economic Direction
Rail Operators Urge Essential Travel Only as Extreme Heat Threatens UK Network Stability
United Kingdom Issues Red Extreme Heat Warning as Temperatures Forecast to Reach 38°C
Keir Starmer Announces Resignation as UK Prime Minister Amid Deepening Political Instability
UK Biotechnology Sector Receives Increased Public Funding to Support Regional Growth
Police Chiefs Update National Protest Management Guidelines Amid Rising Demonstration Activity
UK Aviation Regulator Expands Support for Regional Airports to Strengthen Domestic Routes
CMA Launches Investigation Into Retail Pricing Across UK Grocery Sector
UK Energy Operator Warns of Winter Supply Pressures Despite Stable Overall Grid Outlook
UK Research Council Expands Funding for Regional Biotechnology and Life Sciences Clusters
UK Compensation Scheme for Post Office Horizon Scandal Reaches 80 Percent Completion
Police Chiefs Issue Updated National Guidance on Managing Large Public Demonstrations
UK Expands Regional Airport Funding Scheme to Boost Domestic Connectivity
UK Competition Watchdog Launches Inquiry Into Grocery Pricing Practices
National Grid Warns of Tight Energy Management Needs During Upcoming Winter Peak Demand
UK Education Department Introduces National Standards for AI Use in Secondary Schools
UK High Court Clears North Sea Carbon Capture Project After Final Legal Challenge Fails
Northern Ireland Leaders Hold Emergency Talks on Trade Disruption Under Windsor Framework
Welsh Government Moves to Expand Social Housing in Response to Severe Affordability Pressures
×