PM says millionaire paid for his Caribbean holiday - but the donor denies it
A spokesman for David Ross says the entrepreneur only helped the prime minister find accommodation for his Christmas getaway.
Thursday 13 February 2020 15:23, UK
The co-founder of Carphone Warehouse has denied paying for Boris Johnson's 拢15,000 Christmas holiday.
The prime minister and his partner Carrie Symonds accepted accommodation for the private trip to St Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean.
According to Mr Johnson's entry in the Commons' register of members' interests, the trip was paid for by David Ross.
The entry said: "Accommodation for a private holiday for my partner and me, value £15,000."
But a spokesman for the multimillionaire businessman told the Daily Mail his involvement had been limited to helping the prime minister find the accommodation.
A spokesman for the Grimsby-born businessman told the newspaper: "Boris Johnson did not stay in David Ross's house.
"Boris wanted some help to find somewhere in Mustique, David called the company who run all the villas and somebody had dropped out.
"So Boris got the use of a villa that was worth £15,000, but David Ross did not pay any monies whatsoever for this."
Asked about Mr Johnson's declaration, the spokesman said: "I believe it is a mistake."
He added that Mr Ross had "not put his hand in his pocket whatsoever and can obviously prove that - [he] most definitely did not pay anything and it was not his house.
"It was a house that was rented but the people could not turn up, so Boris Johnson got the use of it."
The trip, which came in the wake of Mr Johnson's election victory, lasted for 10 days from 26 December to 5 January, according to the register.
Labour has called for the PM to provide answers or face an inquiry.
Jon Trickett, the party's shadow cabinet office minister, said: "Boris Johnson must come clean about who has paid for his luxury trip.
"If he fails to do so, the parliamentary commissioner for standards should step in and make him fess up.
"The public deserves to know who is paying for their prime minister's jaunts."
A Number 10 spokeswoman said: "All transparency requirements have been followed, as set out in the register of members' financial interests."
In a later clarification on Thursday, a spokesman for the businessman said: "Following media reports, I would like to provide further explanation of the benefit in
kind Mr Ross provided to Mr Johnson.
"Mr Ross 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."