The work and pensions secretary on Tuesday tried to downplay growing controversy surrounding the funding of the refurbishment of the prime minister's Downing Street flat. Thérèse Coffey defended Johnson after he said he would foot the £58,000 bill himself. She also said she would take him at his word after he denied saying he would rather see 'bodies pile high in their thousands' than impose a third national lockdown.

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Minister seeks to play down growing accusations of Tory sleaze ► https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/apr/27/minister-seeks-to-play-down-growing-accusations-of-tory-sleaze-boris-johnson

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