Explosive new evidence has emerged, suggesting former Prime Minister Boris Johnson attended a private lockdown dinner with a Conservative peer who was secretly helping to bankroll his lavish Downing Street flat refurbishment.
The alleged meeting, which would have taken place during strict Covid restrictions in November 2020, is detailed in newly released government documents. They appear to place Lord Brownlow, a wealthy Tory donor, at a dinner with Mr Johnson in Downing Street.
The revelation strikes at the heart of the so-called 'cash for curtains' scandal that has dogged Mr Johnson's premiership. At the time, Lord Brownlow was the head of a mysterious trust that was channeling funds to cover the extravagant redecoration of the PM's official residence.
A Web of Donations and Denials
According to the files, the dinner was logged in Lord Brownlow's official diary, which was submitted to the Cabinet Office. The entry reportedly states: "8pm - Dinner at Downing Street with the PM." This was during a period when indoor socialising between households was explicitly banned under Covid laws.
This discovery directly contradicts Mr Johnson's previous statements to Parliament. He had asserted that any meetings with Lord Brownlow were solely for discussing a proposed Great Exhibition charity project, not his flat's funding.
The timing is particularly damning. Just weeks after this alleged dinner, Lord Brownlow messaged the PM to assure him the funding for the flat refurbishment was being sorted, writing, "All approved now and funding in place."
Michelle Mone Connection Deepens the Scandal
The documents also shed new light on the involvement of Baroness Michelle Mone. It is revealed that she personally recommended her favoured interior designer, Lulu Lytle, to the Prime Minister. Furthermore, she was actively involved in discussions about the high-cost refurbishment, even suggesting the project could be a "show flat" to encourage other donors.
This level of involvement from a Tory peer, who later became embroiled in her own separate PPE Medpro scandal, raises further questions about the access and influence afforded to party donors.
A spokesperson for Boris Johnson has denied any rules were broken, maintaining the event was a legitimate work meeting. However, these fresh allegations are likely to reignite calls for a full investigation into whether the former PM misled the House of Commons over the affair.
