LONDON (AP) – Britain’s political finance supervisor said Wednesday that it would intensify an investigation into Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s finances, claiming there are “reasonable grounds” to suspect a crime has been committed in the expensive remodeling of the premier’s residence in Downing Street.
The Electoral Commission has the power to impose fines for violations of spending regulations and can refer cases to the police. The commission has been reviewing whether the funds used for the works should have been declared under the political donations law, while Johnson claims he received a loan from his Conservative Party for the work.
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The agency stated that there are “reasonable grounds to suspect that a crime or crimes may have been committed” and that a formal investigation will be conducted.
“The investigation will determine if any of the transactions related to the works at 11 Downing Street are within the regime regulated by the commission and if this financing was reported properly,” the commission said in a statement.
Last week the president’s former senior adviser, Dominic Cummings, said he planned to get Conservative Party donors to pay for the remodel of the taxpayer-financed apartment where Johnson lives with his fiancee, Carrie Symonds, and his son. both, Wilfred.
Cummings, who stepped down from office late last year, said he told Johnson the plan was “unethical, stupid and possibly illegal.”
On Wednesday, Johnson told the House of Commons: “I have personally paid for the Downing Street redevelopment.” However, he did not respond when asked if he had been loaned the money for the work, which reportedly cost about 60,000 pounds ($ 83,000).
Government ministers are required to declare the donations they receive. Johnson insisted that he had “fully complied with” the code of conduct.
“Any other statement that I have to make, if any, will be with the advice of Lord Geidt,” he added, referring to the former private secretary of Queen Elizabeth II, who is the ministerial standards advisor recently appointed by the premier.
