Downing Street was unable to confirm on Monday whether the Prime Minister would be returning to work from No 10 after his latest holiday. The sight of removal vans in Downing Street, a few weeks ahead of Boris Johnson’s exit date of September 6, prompted questions about where and how the outgoing prime minister is planning to spend his final weeks in office.
It was reported over the weekend that Mr Johnson is spending a week in Greece, with locals spotting him shopping alongside wife Carrie in a supermarket in Nea Makri, a town to the east of Athens. That holiday swiftly follows another break earlier this month, and comes amid warnings of further inflation and the threat of a recession later this year.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman confirmed on Monday that Mr Johnson is on leave and will return this weekend, but shed little light on where he will spend his time once he is back. The spokesman told reporters that Mr Johnson had paid for his own holiday and would be kept informed of any pressing Government business while away.
But he did not confirm where the Prime Minister would be working from, and if he would be returning to his Downing Street flat, when he gets back from holiday.
“The Prime Minister is on holiday this week,” he said. “As is the way with prime ministers as you know by virtue of their role they’ll obviously be kept informed on any urgent issues and make decisions particularly those (related to) national security for example.”
He added: “If there were urgent decisions that required the PM’s input he will, of course, be involved in that. But the Deputy Prime Minister (Dominic Raab) is able to be deputised for meetings should they come up but as far as I’m aware there are no such meetings currently scheduled.”
Since Mr Johnson was forced from office by a revolt of his own MPs and ministers, there have been questions about what will happen to the contents of the Prime Minister’s No 11 apartment, which he shares with his wife Carrie. It was reported to have undergone a lavish refurbishment during his tenure, with expensive wallpaper being among the items forming part of the re-design.
His official spokesperson said on Monday that under government rules, anything provided by taxpayer funding will remain in Downing Street, with Mr Johnson “able to take that which was paid for himself”. Labour hit out at the Prime Minister for his decision to take another holiday, accusing him of treating recent months as “one big party”.
A spokesperson said: “On the evidence of the last few months it seems to make little difference if the Prime Minister is in the office or on holiday as he has continually failed to meet the challenge of the Tory cost-of-living crisis. It’s all just one big party for Boris Johnson while the country struggles to pay their bills.”
Asked if Boris Johnson’s holiday could have waited a few weeks, his spokesman said: “I can’t get into the decision around timings but he is on leave this week. He will be back this weekend.”
He insisted that “Government activity continues”.
"Over recent weeks we’ve made a number of significant announcements and will continue to do so in the coming days.”
On Monday, former Cabinet minister Brandon Lewis defended Mr Johnson, rejecting any suggestion that he had “thrown in the towel”. He told LBC: “Even when you are not in the office in Downing Street you are working.”
He added: “He’s probably in about his second week [of] holiday in the last year or so, certainly this year. So while somebody is away, whether they are secretary of state or let alone the Prime Minister, they will be continuing to work. I can assure you he will still be going through inboxes, he will still be dealing with national security issues where relevant. Being out of the country does not mean the Prime Minister stops working.”
Mr Johnson’s spokesman said that the Prime Minister would remain “contactable”. He will be contactable. Any urgent decisions that need to be made, he will obviously be involved and will leave that but he is on leave.”
