Electoral Commission To Investigate PM Johnson Over Downing St Flat Works

In an unprecedented action, the Electoral Commission is to investigate a sitting prime minister, with Boris Johnson now set to face an official inquiry into the funding for the redecoration of the flat above No.11 Downing Street which serves as the UK prime minister's residence in London.

• The Electoral Commission statement reads, "We have been in contact with the Conservative Party since late March and have conducted an assessment of the information they have provided to us. We are now satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to suspect that an offence or offences may have occurred. We will therefore continue this work as a formal investigation to establish whether this is the case. The investigation will determine whether any transactions relating to the works at 11 Downing Street fall within the regime regulated by the Commission and whether such funding was reported as required."
• Johnson faces prime minister's questions at 1200BST (0700ET, 1300CET), in a session that is likely to prove particularly difficult for the PM with questions raised about who originally funded the lavish works (link here). Speculation is that a Conservative party donor originally paid for the redecoration, with Johnson only repaying the cost out of his own pocket at a later date. This has not yet been proved.
• PM already viewed with little trust according to opinion polls (see graphic below). However, of course it should be noted that 'public trust' is not necessarily a harbinger of electoral failure, with Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair winning successive large majorities despite low 'trust' ratings in the early and mid-2000s.

Source: IpsosMORI