Boris Johnson, who is already involved in a scandalous row regarding the redecoration of Downing Street’s flat, has another headache due to loud renovations at the loft.

These works are not connected to the Prime Minister (57), and his wife Carrie (33) will take place on one of the floors higher than their home in No 11, with their two children Wilfred, and Romy.

Initial plans to move a partition wall have been already been canned, but the building changes will still see a door repositioned and locker room, shower and toilet facilities improved.

Insiders describe the work as minor renovations. They are meant for staff members who might need to get changed after cycling to work, or after working long hours.

The Johnsons have a baby, so it’s not certain if noises from as yet unscheduled change will make them sleepy or wakeful. 

Mr Johnson and his wife announced their second pregnancy on July 31, with the unrelated planning application put in on September 7. 

This application, which doesn’t include images or designs, was submitted a few months back in September. It originally sought comments.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie Johnson  inside No 10 Downing Street

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie Johnson  inside No 10 Downing Street

The Johnsons' flat is below the loft floor where the staff renovations are being carried out

Below the loft floor, the Johnsons live in a flat. This is where staff renovations are taking place.

Details of the planning application were published publicly outside Downing Street

The public was able to see the details of this planning application outside Downing Street

Historic England did not have any additional suggestions, despite the property being Grade I-listed. Permission was granted quietly last month.

Tom Burke, City of Westminster Council’s case officer stated in his report that the proposals in their entirety represent an intensive use of building to meet increasing staff housing needs.

The changes have minimal impact on the fabric of listed buildings and are therefore reversible. This has negligible effect upon their importance. 

Johnson could face another headache after the threat of noise builders.

Earlier this month the Tories were fined £17,800 by the Electoral Commission for failing to register a five-figure cash donation from businessman and Tory peer Lord Brownlow in October last year.

The probe revealed that the payment of £52,000 connected to redecorating the Johnsons’ No 11 apartment was kept off the books, with worried staff told ‘don’t worry’.

But the investigation also suggested Mr Johnson could have been aware the cash was from Lord Brownlow and his firm Huntwood Associates in November last year.

The Electoral Commission fined the Conservatives £17,800 for failing to properly declare almost £68,000 mostly used to pay for the refurbishment of the private quarters used by Mr Johnson, his wife Carrie and their son Wilfred.

The Electoral Commission fined the Conservatives £17,800 for failing to properly declare almost £68,000 mostly used to pay for the refurbishment of the private quarters used by Mr Johnson, his wife Carrie and their son Wilfred.

Boris’s story about his flat: A timeline

January 2020A month after Johnson’s win in 2019, plans have been submitted for the renovation of No11 Flat.

February 2020 Officials decide to set up a blind trust to fund the six-figure  renovation. To prevent corruption, the system ensures that the beneficiaries are not informed about the origin of the funds.

Mai 2020Lord Brownlow agrees to establish and chair the trust.

June/July 2020: The Cabinet Office, which is responsible for the Downing Street estate, pays three invoices totalling £52,801.72 for work carried out, and then bills the Conservative Party.

August 2020The bill is paid for by the Conservative Party. 

October 2020Lord Brownlow emails his party to ask how much the bill will be and he promises to make a contribution. He does so.

November 29, 2020Boris Johnson calls Lord Brownlow via WhatsApp, ‘asking for his authorization to authorize further, unspecified refurbishment work’. Lord Brownlow agrees, explaining that the Downing Street Trust had not been established. 

December 18, 2020 Lord Brownlow donates a further £33,484.80 to the firm refurbishing the flat.

February 20, 2121 Lord Brownlow donates a further £13,295.30 to the firm refurbishing the flat, taking his total contribution to £112, 549.12

March 20,21 Daily Mail exposes the cost and method of financing the renovations. Boris Johnson pays the supplier directly and then, Lord Brownlow is refunded by the firm.

April 2021 Ministerial Standards watchdog Lord Geidt clears the PM of wrongdoing. He says officials assured him that  Mr Johnson was not aware that Lord Brownlow paid for the work personally until it was revealed in the media. The PM confirmed the same to him directly.

December 2021 The Electoral Commission fines the Conservatives Party £17,800 for failing to declare Lord Brownlow’s original donation. He was notified that the PM had sent the WhatsApp messages containing information about money to him.

 

It also showed that the PM successfully tapped him up via WhatsApp for another £60,000. In total the Tory peer gave £112,549.12 towards the renovation of the private flat. 

However, Lord Geidt’s adviser on ministerial standard, No10, stated that the PM had informed him that the source of money was unknown until February. 

According to the peer, Johnson was cleared of any wrongdoing by his own investigation. Lord Brownlow had not informed the Prime Minister that Johnson had personally paid the entire cost. 

Dominic Cummings, Mr Johnson’s ex-top aide, previously stated that the PM had “obviously lie to Geidt”.

Angela Rayner (Labour’s deputy leader) wrote Kathryn Stone, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, to inquire about the donations.

Ms Rayner said: ‘Boris Johnson’s sleaze is corroding the office of Prime Minister. 

The Paterson scandal, illegal Christmas parties in Number 10, and now questionable payments by a multimillionaire Conservative Party donor for Downing Street luxury.

“It’s one rule to them and one for us. Boris Johnson is the core of that.” 

Downing Street insists today that Lord Brownlow, the Prime Minister of Britain, was the one in charge of the blind trust used for funding the renovation of Flat B. He was not the donor.

“The PM did not know the details about the underlying donor until media reports in February,” Mr Johnson’s spokesperson told reporters. He said that the PM hadn’t lied to Lord Geidt. 

The Commission’s November report stated that the trust was not set up yet. 

It found that the Conservative Party failed to ‘fully report’ a donation of £67,801.72 from Brownlow made in October 2020, of which £52,801 which was connected to the refurbishment of the 11 Downing Street flat where Boris Johnson lives.

The probe found that when the payment was flagged by a junior member of Conservative staff, they were told the cash was for ‘something else’ and ‘don’t worry’. 

Also, it was revealed that Lord Brownlow asked the PM for extra cash via Whatsapp only weeks after his original donation. 

The investigation could also lead to Kathryn Stone being re-investigated. 

A commission investigation revealed that party compliance systems had failed to adequately record decisions regarding the recording and handling of donations.

A fine of £17,800 was levied for ‘failing to accurately report a donation and keep a proper accounting record’.

Details of the lavish redecoration of the apartment shared by the PM and his then fiancée were revealed in March.

Lulu Lytle (upmarket designer) reportedly included gold wallcoverings for the redesign of No11 

The funding did not show up in either Mr Johnson’s Commons Register of Interests or the Commission’s List of Political Donations. 

The Labour Party demanded an investigation to determine how and if rules were violated.  

They are considering appealing against the fine imposed by the Electoral Commission for Boris Johnson’s donation to his flat renovation.

According to a party spokesperson, “The Conservative Party received notice from the Electoral Commission stating that the way in which a payment was reported was a technical violation of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act reporting requirements.”

“We’ve been in continuous contact with the Electoral Commission about this matter, and we have sought their advice regarding how the transaction should have been reported.

“We are currently considering whether or not to appeal the decision. A decision will be made within 28 days.”

Alistair Carmichael, Liberal Democrat MP, said that it remains to be seen if Lord Geidt feels able to carry on in his current role. He added, “Exhibit maybe a greater degree curiosity and perhaps a bit less trust than has been the case so far.”

Shetland MP said in the Commons that the Electoral Commission’s report on donations to refurbish Downing Street flats today stated that the Prime Minister had been WhatsApping Lord Brownlow in November 2020 asking for cash.

“But it seems that the Prime minister also informed Lord Geidt the independent advisor that he was only aware of the funding source February 20,21.

“Now, it is uncertain if Lord Geidt will be able to keep his independent advisory role.”

“But, whoever does this job, will need to be as assiduous, shall we say? And maybe a bit less trust than was the case up to now.