Boris Johnson’s holiday ‘worth double the amount declared’

Carrie Symonds and Boris Johnson pose for a picture for Instagram - Credit: Instagram

Parliament’s standards watchdog reportedly believes Boris Johnson’s holiday to Mustique was worth more than double the £15,000 he declared in the Commons register.

According to the Daily Mail, Kathryn Stone, the commissioner for standards, said the bill had not been met by Tory donor David Ross as the prime minister has insisted.

The revelation will heap further pressure on Johnson as he faces various investigations into whether he properly declared any donations to cover the lavish refurbishments of his official flat.

Downing Street insisted the prime minister “transparently declared the benefit in kind” of the luxury Caribbean holiday, and noted that Ross confirmed the declaration is “correct”.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards confirmed this week she is still investigating whether Johnson properly declared the holiday on the private island 16 months ago.

In the Register of Members’ Interests, the prime minister declared the trip with fiancee Carrie Symonds as a “benefit in kind” from the Carphone Warehouse founder who has a villa on the island.

But the Mail said Stone believes the break was worth more than twice the declared £15,000.

Johnson was said to have refused to accept the ruling and is trying to have it overturned to avoid the risk of being suspended as an MP.

A Downing Street spokesman said: “The PM transparently declared the benefit in kind in the Commons Register of Interests. The Cabinet Office was aware of the declaration and was content it was appropriate.

“A spokesman for Mr Ross confirmed the PM’s declaration is correct and the accommodation was facilitated as a donation in kind.”

This week, a spokesman for Ross said he had “facilitated accommodation for Mr Johnson on Mustique valued at £15,000”.

“Therefore this is a benefit in kind from Mr Ross to Mr Johnson, and Mr Johnson’s declaration to the House of Commons is correct.”

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner urged the prime minister to “come clean with the British people”.

“The public has a right to know who paid for his luxury holiday, how much they paid for it and what they might expect in return for their generosity,” she said.

“If these reports are true, the prime minister will once again have shown his complete contempt for the basic standards of integrity in office.

“The prime minister has already broken parliamentary rules regarding his financial interests. It is clear that he thinks that the rules that apply to the rest of us simply do not apply to him.”