Boris Johnson loan probe into BBC chair to be run by father of Senior No10 aide

23 January 2023 , 23:43

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William Shawcross' daughter, Eleanor, heads up Rishi Sunak's No10 Policy Unit (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Downing Street faced being dragged into Boris Johnson’s crony loan row last night as it emerged the man investigating it is the father of a senior No10 aide.

William Shawcross, the Commissioner for Public Appointments, will lead a probe into Richard Sharp’s appointment as BBC chair. But Mr Shawcross’s daughter, Eleanor, is head of No10’s policy unit.

One Westminster insider said: “How can an independent inquiry have undeclared familial links to No10?”

It was claimed at the weekend that Mr Sharp had helped Mr Johnson secure an £800,000 line of credit shortly before he put him forward for the BBC job.

Mr Sharp said: “I welcome any review that will clarify my role in this matter. I was not involved in making a loan or arranging a guarantee and I did not arrange any financing.”

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William Shawcross (pictured) will lead the probe into Richard Sharp's appointment as BBC Chair (PA)

And Mr Johnson said: “Richard Sharp is a good and wise man but he knows absolutely nothing about my personal finances, I can tell you that for 100% ding dang sure.”

Ms Shawcross was appointed head of the No10 Policy Unit by Rishi Sunak in October. She had previously donated £20,000 to his Tory leadership bid.

We have approached Mr Shawcross for comment.

Mikey Smith