Angela Rayner responds to Lord Geidt’s findings on the Downing Street refurbishment

Angela Rayner MP, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, responding to Lord Geidt’s findings on the Downing Street refurbishment, said:

"Boris Johnson has little regard for the rules or the truth. The Ministerial Code requires ministers to act with transparency and honesty. It is simply impossible to read these exchanges and conclude that the Prime Minister has not breached these aspects of the Code.

"Once again, by attempting to hide the truth, Boris Johnson undermines his own office. The Prime Minister’s pathetic excuses will fool no one, and this is just the latest in a long line of sorry episodes.

“This matters because it matters who has influence on our government in a democracy. The British public can't WhatsApp a wealthy donor to open their wallets on request, and the least they deserve is transparency about who’s bankrolling their Prime Minister.”