Dominic Cummings has alleged Boris Johnson was “funnelling money” to a newspaper run by his friend, George Osborne during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The former chief aid made the explosive accusations during an inquiry sitting this week, saying the PM would make sure government cash was spent on ads in newspapers such as the London Evening Standard, which Osborne was editor-in-chief of at the time.
It was also alleged by Lee Cain that the PM wanted to please the right-wing press by holding off on announcing a lockdown.
“The prime minister was becoming increasingly concerned about the impact of lockdowns on the economy and the political impact it was having on the right wing of the Conservative Party and the coverage of the right-leaning media,” Cain wrote in his written submission to the inquiry.
Cummings was also asked about the relationship between Johnson and the media at the inquiry.
“There was a general feeling in Number 10 that the way in which the prime minister responded constantly to the media was extremely bad and extremely damaging to the Covid response,” replied Mr Cummings.
“There were specific concerns about his relationship with the Barclays in the Telegraph.
“And there were specific concerns and also suspicions of possible corruption in terms of his relationship with [George] Osborne, and funnelling money to the Evening Standard.”
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