It’s one rule for the Tories and another for the rest of us...
Boris Johnson is accused of yet more self-serving cronyism over an £800,000 loan arrangement.
Nadhim Zahawi reportedly had to settle a £4.8million tax bill. And Rishi Sunak managed to break seatbelt laws.
Rules are for the little people.
Labour is demanding Johnson face a probe over claims Mr Sharp helped him get a loan guarantee before the then-PM recommended him for the job of BBC boss.
Party chairwoman Anneliese Dodds has written to Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Daniel Greenberg amid claims of cronyism.
Former Tory donor Mr Sharp admitted introducing millionaire Sam Blyth, a distant cousin of Mr Johnson’s, to Cabinet Secretary Simon Case.
It is reported that Canadian Mr Blyth agreed to act as a guarantor to up to £800,000 of credit to fund the ex-party leader’s “day-to-day expenses” when he got into financial trouble in 2020.
Mr Johnson, Mr Sharp and Mr Blyth had dinner at Chequers before the loan was finalised, though they deny discussing the MP’s finances.
Former Goldman Sachs banker Mr Sharp had reportedly already applied for the role of BBC chairman of the BBC at the time. He was appointed in January 2021.
As the loan story gathered pace yesterday, Uxbridge MP Mr Johnson was again visiting Ukraine president Volodymr Zalensky in Kyiv.
Ms Dodds said she was concerned he had breached the MPs’ code of conduct which states “holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial obligation to individuals or organisations that might influence the performance of their official duties”.
Shadow Culture Secretary Lucy Powell has also written to William Shawcross, Commissioner for Public Appointments, to ask him to investigate the process of appointing Mr Sharp.
She said in the letter: “It is vital that the public and Parliament can have trust in this process, and it is free from any real or perceived conflict of interest.”
Mr Johnson’s spokesman dismissed the claims as “rubbish” and insisted his financial arrangements “have been properly declared”. He added: “Richard Sharp has never given any financial advice to Boris Johnson, nor has Mr Johnson sought any from him.”
But the Sunday Times claimed the Cabinet Office wrote a letter telling Mr Johnson to stop seeking Mr Sharp’s advice about his personal finances.
Mr Sharp told the paper: “There is not a conflict when I simply connected, at his request, Mr Blyth with the Cabinet Secretary and had no further involvement whatsoever.”
A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: “Richard Sharp was appointed as chairman of the BBC following a rigorous appointments process including assessment by a panel of experts, constituted according to the public appointments code.”
Despite his £159,000 salary as PM and earning more than £1million since he left No10, Mr Johnson has relied on benefactors to fund his lavish lifestyle.
The loan claims cap off a bad few days for Rishi Sunak, who was last week fined for not wearing a seatbelt as he filmed a promo video in a car.
And pressure mounts on Tory chair Nadhim Zahawi over his tax affairs.
Sunak 'must come clean over Zahawi tax scandal'
Rishi Sunak was last night told by Labour to “come clean” over what he knew about Nadhim Zahawi’s tax affairs when he made him Tory party chairman.
The PM is desperately attempting to save his Cabinet minister after he reportedly had to pay £4.8million to the taxman for a “careless” error.
Labour yesterday pledged to “drain the swamp” if it gets into power after Mr Sunak has been hit by a series of scandals.
Labour’s Deputy Leader Angela Rayner said: “The Prime Minister must now come clean on what he knew and when about Nadhim Zahawi’s tax affairs and the concerns raised with Number 10.
“The public have a right to know if warnings were ignored and a man deemed unfit for a knighthood was repeatedly appointed to Cabinet.”
It was reported yesterday the idea of knighting Mr Zahawi in the New Year Honours list had been mooted but his name was left off after his tax arrangements were flagged.
In an embarrassing bid to avoid questions on the row, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly claimed he had been too busy “doing some shopping” to get briefed on the matter before appearing on TV yesterday.
The minister said he did not know about the “granularity” when asked if Mr Zahawi was under investigation by HMRC during his time as Chancellor this summer.
