Thursday, January 06, 2022

Boris Johnson Accused of Corruption after ‘Great Exhibition’ Text Emerges

THE GUARDIAN: PM sought funds for flat refurb from Tory donor while promising to consider plans for mystery event

Johnson signed off a WhatsApp message to Lord Brownlow by saying: ‘Ps am on the great exhibition plan.’ Photograph: Tayfun Salcı/Zuma Press Wire/Rex/Shutterstock

Boris Johnson has been accused of corruption after it emerged that he sought funds for his flat refurbishment from a Conservative donor while promising to consider plans for a mystery “great exhibition”.

The prime minister is facing fresh questions after newly published WhatsApp messages with the Tory peer David Brownlow show Johnson called parts of his Downing Street residence a “tip” and asked for “approvals” so his decor designer, Lulu Lytle, could “get on with it” in November 2020.

He signed off the message by saying: “Ps am on the great exhibition plan Will revert.” Lord Brownlow replied: “Of course, get Lulu to call me and we’ll get it sorted ASAP! Thanks for thinking about GE2.”

On Thursday, Johnson was forced to make a “humble and sincere” apology for the texts not being given to his independent ethics adviser during an initial inquiry last spring. » | Aubrey Allegretti and Jessica Elgot | Thursday, January 6, 2022