Boris Johnson’s holidays. Nice for those who can afford it
After the Tory Conference in Manchester Boris Johnson left for Spain for a week’s holiday.
For those who have just seen a cut in their Universal Credit benefit, this may seem like a different universe. The latest Johnson holiday has aroused some comment. Enough it would seem for Tory Security Minister Damian Hinds to be despatched to tell the media that the PM should have time to relax, unwind and be with his family. Millions might feel that this is nice if you can, as they struggle to get by.
Johnson is now reported to be staying at a property owned by Lord Zac Goldsmith who failed in a bid to replace Johnson as Tory Mayor of London at the 2016 Election.
The Guardian has now revealed (and Goldsmith has not denied) that the ultimate ownership of the property is linked to offshore tax havens of the kind exposed in the recently published Pandora papers. It is not of course illegal but it underlines a fundamentally immoral approach to wealth, how it is gained and how it is used
The Guardian has now reported (November 12th) that the villa has been the subject of Spanish Court action over multi-million pound tax evasion:
The villa is in Marbella Club Hills. The area is apparently known for excellent restaurants and golf. One suspects the former more than the latter interests Johnson.
The area is a long standing favourite of the wealthy and both Tony & Cherie Blair and Dave Cameron have been there in recent years. A range of other even more dubious but rich individuals own property or have business interests in the area.
Johnson who is paid £155,000 a year as PM often claims to be broke (he does have a lot of children to support…). Even so one might think he could afford a week in Marbella. That of course is not the Johnsonian worldview. His spokesperson has refused to confirm that he is paying which very probably means he isnt. He will have to declare the cost of the holiday as a donation in the Parliamentary register again…
Is Johnson paying?
Johnson appears to have been on holiday in Spain only once before in the 1980s(not quite his ideal location) with sister Rachel.
No doubt he would have preferred Italy or further afield but the Spain holiday no doubt comes free, always a factor of the perpetually cash strapped Johnson (Prime Ministerial salary c£150,000 a year).
Indeed while he was recently on a brief and interrupted break at his father Stanley’s house in the West Country and in 2020 had an equally ill fated stay in Scotland. Its far away climes that have generally attracted Johnson
Sonia Purnell in Just Boris noted that in 2010 he took his then wife Marina Wheeler on holiday to India. It was not a short affair. They were still at Serai on New Year’s Eve.
Purnell describes the location as ‘a luxury camp of tented villas in the Thar desert, Rajasthan.. Conde Naste Traveller observed the 24 ‘tents’ around a pool (in a desert) inspired by a traditional Indian step-well represented ‘a new level of luxury’.
Suites for two cost up to £716 for bed and breakfast per night.
While no one can object to people taking holidays usually they are expected to do some work in between, not least to earn the money to pay for the holiday. This is not the Johnsonian model.
Perhaps its time for a Grand National Holiday. The Chartists tried this in 1839 calling for people to stop work until the Government treated people equally and fairly. It didn’t work then, but it may be time to have another try.
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