Boris Johnson being investigated over funding for Caribbean New Year holiday in 2019

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is being investigated over a potential breach of Commons rules after taking a £15,000 Christmas holiday with his fiancée Carrie Symonds in the Caribbean in 2019/2020.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, which is an independent officer of the House of Commons, has confirmed that an investigation against Johnson is being undertaken.

The news comes after it was announced in April that the Electoral Commission was launching an investigation into the funding for the refurbishment of Johnson’s Downing Street flat.

This is what we know so far.

Why is Boris Johnson being investigated?

The inquiry aims to figure out whether Johnson broke the rules with his trip over the New Year. Kathryn Stone, who is the current Commissioner, is investigating into whether Johnson properly declared the luxury stay.

While Downing Street has previously said “all relevant transparency requirements” were met regarding the trip, there was some confusion around when Johnson declared the holiday in the register of MPs’ interests.

In the register, Johnson said that he had accepted “accommodation for a private holiday for my partner and me, value £15,000”.

On the UK Parliament website, it states that the nature of the investigation against Johnson relates to “registration of interest under category four of the Guide to the rules [visits outside the UK] in 2020”.

At the time, Johnson claimed that the cost of the £15,000 villa in which he stayed was paid for by Tory party donor David Ross, who owns a property on the island of Mustique where Johnson stayed.

A spokesperson for Ross denied that he paid for the holiday, however they went on to clarify: “Mr Ross facilitated accommodation for Mr Johnson on Mustique valued at £15,000.

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

What did Angela Rayner say about the investigation?

Reacting to the news, Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said: “The public have a right to know who paid for Boris Johnson’s luxury Caribbean holiday and the renovation of his flat.

“Most importantly, we need to know what these donors were promised or expected in return for their generosity.

“As we have seen over the last year, Tory donors have received a very high return on their investment in the form of government contracts.

“Boris Johnson needs to stop using the office of Prime Minister as an opportunity to fund his lavish lifestyle and enrich his mates.”

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