Launch an investigation into PM’s Goldsmith holiday, say Labour and Lib Dems

Responding to the news that the Prime Minister will not be registering his holiday at Zac Goldsmith’s Marbella villa in the register of members interests, the Liberal Democrats have said the Independent Standards Commissioner should urgently launch an investigation.

Liberal Democrat Cheif Whip Wendy Chamberlain MP said: “Boris Johnson and the Tories have shown this week they don’t have a shred of integrity left. The Independent Standards Commissioner should urgently launch an investigation into whether Boris Johnson breached the code of conduct by failing to properly declare his holiday,” she went on: “The Tories have shown they can’t be trusted to mark their own homework on this issue. They are now the party of sleaze.”

Deputy Labour leader has also called for an investigation, saying in a statement this afternoon: “It is also worth noting that Lord Goldsmith was given a peerage and a ministerial job by Mr Johnson. The public could understandably draw the conclusion in this case that the prime minister is dishing out cushy jobs to his friends who pay for his luxury holidays.”

Earlier today a Downing Street spokesperson maintained that the Marbella getaway had abided by the transparency guidelines required by ministerial code and the code of conduct for MPs.