, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, has today written
to calling on him to
investigate whether the Prime Minister's former Press Secretary
knowingly misled journalists when she claimed in an official
briefing that Conservative Party funds were not being used to pay
for the refurbishment of the Prime Minister's flat.
Labour is urging the Cabinet Secretary to investigate the
inaccurate briefing as part of his review of his review into the
refurbishment. As a civil servant, is bound by the Civil Service Code, which sets out
the standards of integrity and honesty that must be upheld.
Full text of the letter
Dear Cabinet Secretary,
I write following the revelation that refurbishments to the Prime
Minister’s flat were funded via a loan from the Conservative
Party.
The Prime Minister's then Press Secretary, , is reported to have told lobby journalists during
an official briefing on 8 March: “Conservative Party funds are
not being used to pay for any refurbishment of the Downing Street
estate." When asked about the matter today, the Prime Minister's
official spokesman reportedly declined to correct the record and
come clean about the donation.
As a Special Adviser, is bound by the Civil Service Code which sets out
standards of integrity and honesty required from public
officials. Therefore, I would urge you to build into your review
an investigation into whether the former Press Secretary
knowingly misled journalists and the public, or was misled
herself by senior members of the government who seem intent on a
cover up.
In order to maintain public trust, it is vital that the
government publishes the long delayed List of Ministers'
Interests and the details of who paid for Boris Johnson’s flat.
Due to the public interest in this matter, I will be making this
letter public.
Yours sincerely,
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party
Ends
