Boris Johnson’s most die-hard allies flocked to a wedding party with him at a billionaire donor’s estate last night - weeks before he is forced from office. The outgoing PM invited his last remaining loyalists to the grounds of 18th-century Daylesford House - owned by Tory mega-donor Lord Bamford.
The three-times-wed PM scrapped plans to party at grace-and-favour manor Chequers after his resignation. Instead he and Carrie hosted a lavish bash in the grounds of JCB tycoon Lord Bamford’s Grade I-listed mansion near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire.
A sprawling marquee was spotted on the estate to mark their wedding, 14 months after the pair made do with a scaled-back reception in the No10 garden, according to Mirror Online. Ex-Neighbours pop star Holly Valance - who is married to billionaire property tycoon Nick Candy - was pictured arriving in a Rolls-Royce SUV.
Turning up last night were Cabinet loyalists Jacob Rees-Mogg and Nadine Dorries. Later the Culture Secretary - who is responsible for combating online hate - shared a mocked-up image of Rishi Sunak as Brutus, stabbing Boris Johnson as Julius Caesar in the back.
Nigel Adams, the PM’s Cabinet enforcer, also arrived. He and Ms Dorries are both rumoured to be in line for House of Lords seats in a last round of honours. Loyalist John Whittingdale, peer Zac Goldsmith and special advisors all trooped up to the country home too - alongside the PM’s dad Stanley, sister Rachel, and even some guests who arrived by helicopter.
But ex-chancellor Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss missed the party as they were on the campaign trail in a bid to replace the Prime Minister. And a less welcome guest was anti-Brexit protester Steve Bray - who pitched up on the street with a giant banner reading “corrupt Tory government”.
JCB tycoon Lord Bamford, his firms and his family have handed the Conservative Party at least £14million in cash and gifts since 2001. The peer has previously lent his private aircraft to Mr Johnson to travel for party events.
Sources told the Mirror they expected Lord Bamford to cover at least some of the cost of the event. But when asked about the wedding celebrations, No 10 declined to comment saying it was a “private matter”.
The Tory peer supported Boris Johnson’s 2019 leadership bid, with the PM knocking down a wall with a JCB digger at the Staffordshire factory in a stunt to show he could “get Brexit done”. Lord Bamford also flew out to India earlier this year to meet Boris Johnson when the PM toured a JCB factory on government business.
The couple married in a low-key private ceremony at Westminster Cathedral last year, organised in secret, in front of a small group of family and friends. Caterers from eco-friendly barbecue eatery Smoke and Braai were spotted setting up while staff trooped in and out of the bunting-topped tent.
Guests were able to relax on hay bales and benches placed outside the marquee and eat and drink at casks and small tables as they enjoyed views across vast meadows and orchards. Ms Truss, at a campaign visit in Bromley, defended Mr Johnson for holding the lavish celebrations at a time when millions are struggling with ballooning bills.
Asked if the Prime Minister should concentrate on crises facing the country instead of partying, she told reporters: “I think he’s entitled to enjoy his wedding day, and I wish the best to him and Carrie and all the family.” Lord Bamford’s wife, Lady Carole Bamford, set up the upmarket Daylesford Organic Farm, with a chain of shops selling its produce across London.
The Prime Minister reportedly had £12,500 of Daylesford’s organic food “smuggled in” to Downing Street to help him recover after he nearly died of Covid. Former No10 aide Cleo Watson appeared to confirm the story last week, in an article for Tatler. She said she behaved like the PM’s “nanny” and had to “insist that he drink vitamin-filled green juices from Daylesford instead of his usual Diet Coke”.
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