London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Sep 11, 2025

Five questions for the PM and why the answers matter

Five questions for the PM and why the answers matter

Boris Johnson is under scrutiny over allegations which concern standards in public life.
1) Who funded the Downing Street flat refurbishment and when?


Boris Johnson's former chief adviser, Dominic Cummings, has alleged that the prime minister once planned for Conservative donors to "secretly pay" for the revamp of the flat where he and fiancée Carrie Symonds live.

But the defence secretary has responded by saying Mr Johnson "personally" footed the bill.

It's not clear whether any of the work - reportedly costing up to £200,000 - was initially paid for by another source, whom the prime minister then repaid.

It was reported that Conservative Lord Brownlow said he was making a donation to the party, which included "£58,000 to cover the payments" already made.

Asked whether he had ever discussed using donations to pay for refurbishments, Mr Johnson said: "If there's anything to be said about that, any declaration to be made, that will of course be made in due course."

Why it matters: If Lord Brownlow, or other donors, contributed to the fund or made a loan, this should have been reported to the Electoral Commission, the body which ensures transparency in political funding.

2) Who leaked the details of England's autumn lockdown?


Details of the second lockdown were released before the government announced it on 31 October. Dominic Cummings has denied responsibility for those leaks.

He also claimed the prime minister had considered stopping an inquiry into who was responsible for the leak after it was found that "all the evidence" pointed to Henry Newman - who was a Cabinet Office adviser at the time and now works in Downing Street.


Mr Johnson allegedly said Mr Newman and Carrie Symonds were "best friends" and he would have to fire Mr Newman if the inquiry concluded that he was to blame - and that this could cause problems in his family life.

The government said the PM had "never interfered in a government leak inquiry". And Cabinet Secretary Simon Case warned it was "probable" it would "not successfully" identify the person responsible, given the time that's elapsed.

Why it matters: The inquiry still has not reported its findings, almost six months after being launched. If Mr Johnson wanted to stop it because it might conclude his fiancee's friend was the leaker, this would contravene the ministerial code, laying out rules of behaviour.

3) Where are the full details on the PM's text exchange with Sir James Dyson?


Last week, messages sent between Mr Johnson and the businessman came to light. They revealed that, early in the pandemic, the prime minister had promised to "fix" a tax issue so that Sir James's Singapore-based staff could work for longer in the UK in order to help build more ventilators for sick patients.

Mr Johnson promised to publish the full exchange on Friday, but while some details of the correspondence were released, this did not happen.

Why it matters: The prime minister said there would be transparency over the texts and is therefore under pressure to give more information.

4) Did the PM initially back the European Super League?


Plans for a football competition in which six of the UK's clubs were guaranteed a place - whatever their Premier League performance - were announced last week. Mr Johnson was among its heaviest critics, calling it a "cartel".

Edward Woodward came to Downing Street a few days before the European Super League was announced

But it was later revealed that Manchester United chief executive Edward Woodward - whose club was one of those behind the European Super League (ESL) - had met the PM's chief of staff in Downing Street a few days earlier.

The Sunday Times reported that the plans were discussed in the Downing Street meeting - but Downing Street denies that.

Why it matters: The UK government welcomed the end of the ESL, from which the English clubs have withdrawn. Were some in Downing Street aware of the clubs' plan in advance?

5) Did Saudi prince text the PM about Newcastle United takeover?
Mohammed bin Salman is accused of having authorised the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi

It's been reported that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman contacted Mr Johnson to say relations between his country and the UK would be damaged if he did not try to "correct" the Premier League's decision not to allow a £300m takeover of Newcastle United.

It is claimed the prime minister asked an aide, Lord Udny-Lister, to look into the matter.

But the government has denied any involvement with the takeover, a position backed up by Newcastle United.

Why it matters: The Premier League had been scrutinising the takeover attempt over concerns that the consortium behind the bid was not properly independent from the Saudi government. Prince Mohammed is also accused of having approved the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2018.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
ChatGPT CEO signals policy to alert authorities over suicidal youth after teen’s death
The British legal mafia hit back: Banksy mural of judge beating protester is scrubbed from London court
Surpassing Musk: Larry Ellison becomes the richest man in the world
Embarrassment for Starmer: He fired the ambassador photographed on Epstein’s 'pedophile island'
Manhunt after 'skilled sniper' shot Charlie Kirk. Footage: Suspect running on rooftop during panic
Effective Protest Results: Nepal’s Prime Minister Resigns as Youth-Led Unrest Shakes the Nation
Qatari prime minister says Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages
King Charles and Prince Harry Share First In-Person Moment in 19 Months
Starmer Establishes Economic ‘Budget Board’ to Centralise Policy and Rebuild Business Trust
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Brazilian police say ex-President Bolsonaro had planned to flee to Argentina seeking asylum
Trinidad Leader Applauds U.S. Naval Strike and Advocates Forceful Action Against Traffickers
Kim Jong Un Oversees Final Test of New High-Thrust Solid-Fuel Rocket Engine
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Supreme Court temporarily allows Trump to pause billions in foreign aid
Charlie Sheen says his father, Martin Sheen, turned him in to the police: 'The greatest betrayal possible'
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
Pig Heads Left Outside Multiple Paris Mosques in Outrage-Inducing Acts
Nvidia’s ‘Wow’ Factor Is Fading. The AI chip giant used to beat Wall Street expectations for earnings by a substantial margin. That trajectory is coming down to earth.
France joins Eurozone’s ‘periphery’ as turmoil deepens, say investors
On the Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s Death: Prince Harry Returns to Britain
France Faces New Political Crisis, again, as Prime Minister Bayrou Pushed Out
Murdoch Family Finalises $3.3 Billion Succession Pact, Ensuring Eldest Son’s Leadership
Big Oil Slashes Jobs and Investments Amid Prolonged Low Crude Prices
Court Staff Cover Up Banksy Image of Judge Beating a Protester
Social Media Access Curtailed in Turkey After CHP Calls for Rallies Following Police Blockade of Istanbul Headquarters
Nayib Bukele Points Out Belgian Hypocrisy as Brussels Considers Sending Army into the Streets
Elon Musk Poised to Become First Trillionaire Under Ambitious Tesla Pay Plan
France, at an Impasse, Heads Toward Another Government Collapse
Burning the Minister’s House Helped Protesters to Win Justice: Prabowo Fires Finance Minister in Wake of Indonesia Protests
Brazil Braces for Fallout from Bolsonaro Trial by corrupted judge
The Country That Got Too Rich? Public Spending Dominates Norway Election
Nearly 40 Years Later: Nike Changes the Legendary Slogan Just Do It
Generations Born After 1939 Unlikely to Reach Age One Hundred, New Study Finds
End to a four-year manhunt in New Zealand: the father who abducted his children to the forests was killed, the three siblings were found
Germany Suspends Debt Rules, Funnels €500 Billion Toward Military and Proxy War Strategy
EU Prepares for War
BMW Eyes Growth in China with New All‑Electric Neue Klasse Lineup
Trump Threatens Retaliatory Tariffs After EU Imposes €2.95 Billion Fine on Google
Tesla Board Proposes Unprecedented One-Trillion-Dollar Performance Package for Elon Musk
US Justice Department Launches Criminal Mortgage-Fraud Probe into Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook
Escalating Drug Trafficking and Violence in Latin America: A Growing Crisis
US and Taiwanese Defence Officials Held Secret Talks in Alaska
Report: Secret SEAL Team 6 Mission in North Korea Ordered by Trump in 2019 Ended in Failure
Gold Could Reach Nearly $5,000 if Fed Independence Is Undermined, Goldman Sachs Warns
Uruguay, Colombia and Paraguay Secure Places at 2026 World Cup
Florida Murder Case: The Adelson Family, the Killing of Dan Markel, and the Trial of Donna Adelson
×