Boris Johnson branded his plush Downing Street flat "a bit of a tip" as he begged Tory donors to help with a £100,000 refurbishment, it has been revealed.
The October 2020 text to Lord Brownlow, published today, shows the lengths the prime minister went to not to have to pay for the lavish refurbishment - which he did later fund following an outcry.
The texts were published as part of an internal inquiry into the renovation work, which criticised the Prime Minister for failing to provide all the relevant information on who paid for what.
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Mr Johnson was accused of lying to watchdog Lord Geidt by saying he didn’t know who funded the £112,000-plus makeover until February 2021.
Yet, he was cleared of wrongdoing after claiming he forgot about the message because it was on his old phone.
The Prime Minister blamed a security breach, in which his phone number was left online for more than a decade, for the switch.
He made a "humble and sincere" apology to the watchdog.
The message from Mr Johnson to donor Lord Brownlow on November 29 read: “I am afraid parts of our flat are still a bit of a tip and am keen to allow Lulu Lytle to get on with it.
“Can I possibly ask her to get in touch with you for approvals?
“Many thanks and all best Boris.
“Ps am on the great exhibition plan Will revert.”
Lord Brownlow replied three hours later: “Afternoon Prime Minister, I hope you’re both well.
“Sorry for the delay I was out for a walk and didn’t have my ‘work’ phone with me.
“Of course, get Lulu to call me and we’ll get it sorted ASAP ! Thanks for thinking about GE2. Best wishes David”
He added: “I should have said, as the Trust isn’t set up yet (will be in January) approval is a doddle as it’s only me and I know where the £ will come from.
“So as soon as Lulu calls we can crack on - David.”
Lord Geidt was highly critical of the failure to provide him with the “missing exchange”.
On December 17, the ministerial interests adviser said: “It is plainly unsatisfactory that my earlier advice was unable to rely on the fullest possible disclosure of relevant information.
“I consider that the greatest possible care should have been taken to assemble all relevant material and this standard has not been met.”
It comes after Lord Geidt previously cleared the prime minister of breaching the code in relation to the funding of the flat refurbishment – a judgement he upheld on Thursday.
The Electoral Commission fined the Conservatives £17,800 after it found the party had not followed the law over donations by Lord Brownlow to help cover the renovations, with costs exceeding £112,500.
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