Tory staff have been told to hand over communications over No 11 Downing Street flat within a week amid an investigation, reports say
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Conservative Party staff have been told they have one week to hand over all communication related to renovations of Boris Johnson’s flat in 11 Downing Street or face criminal consequences, according to reports.
The Times and The Sun reported all Conservative Party staff received an email from human resources about the Electoral Commission’s inquiry into how the redecoration work was funded, which told them: “You are put on notice that this is a criminal investigation.”
The PM has insisted the row over lavish refurbishments to the flat over No 11 Downing Street is a “farrago of nonsense”.
He has said he “personally” paid for the renovations but refused to say whether he received an initial donation from the Conservative Party to cover the costs.
Meanwhile, the collapse of post-Brexit talks over access to Norwegian seas sparked anger, as the “devestating blow” spelt the end of the UK’s distant-water fishing industry after hundreds of years.
Tory lead drops in wake of flat controversy
The Daily Mail has run a poll finding the Tories have seen their lead drop to one point over Labour, with the newspaper’s political editor saying the PM’s popularity “suffers in the wake of the Downing Street flat affair”:
Zoe Tidman1 May 2021 09:08
‘Brexit betrayal of fishing’ – Sturgeon
Sharing The Independent’s front page on the collapse of fishing talks, Nicola Sturgeon said there had been a “Brexit betrayal of fishing”:
Zoe Tidman1 May 2021 08:40
Fishing communities ‘betrayed’ afted collapse of post-Brexit talks
Elsewhere, the collapse of post-Brexit fishing talks has sparked anger.
Hull West and Hessle MP Emma Hardy told The Independent the failure of talks was a “devastating” blow for jobs and incomes in the city, while Sir Keir Starmer said fishing communities had been “betrayed by the prime minister”.
The collapse of talks over access to Norwegian seas spelt the end of the UK’s distant-water fishing industry after hundreds of years.
Andrew Woodcock and Emily Goddard report:
Zoe Tidman1 May 2021 08:20
Tory staff ‘told to hand over flat communications’
First off, reports have suggested Conservative Party staff have been given one week to hand over all communication related to renovations of Boris Johnson’s flat in 11 Downing Street or face criminal consequences.
Separate inquiries into how the redecoration work was funded are being carried out by the head of the Civil Service Simon Case, the independent adviser on ministers’ interests Lord Geidt, and the Electoral Commission.
The Times and The Sun reported all Conservative Party staff received an email from human resources in the name of Alan Mabbutt, a senior official and registered legal officer, about the Commission’s inquiry which told them: “You are put on notice that this is a criminal investigation.”
The email instructed that all communications had to be provided to the investigation by 7 May.
The Times added that Mr Mabbutt said if staff “knowingly falsify, conceal, destroy or otherwise dispose of information” then they “could be committing a criminal offence of perverting the course of justice”.
Zoe Tidman1 May 2021 08:02
Good morning and welcome to our rolling coverage of UK politics.
Zoe Tidman1 May 2021 08:01
