Carrie on Strictly? Show bosses are keen to sign ‘the most glamorous woman in politics’ to this year’s line-up’
Strictly bosses are reportedly desperate to sign ‘the most glamorous woman in politics’ Carrie Symonds for this year’s show which will kick off in the autumn.
Producers are believed to be convinced that Carrie, 33, will proved a hit with their viewers due to public interest in her life and what she has to offer.
The alleged offer comes amid reports of her and PM Boris Johnson’s controversial £200,000 flat refurb.
It is claimed Boris took a £58,000 Tory party loan to complete the renovations, of which they are allowed £30,000 of public money per year.
Line-up: Strictly bosses are reportedly desperate to sign ‘the most glamorous woman in politics’ Carrie Symonds for this year’s show which will kick off in the autumn
A source told The Sun: ‘BBC bosses plan their line-up from the start of the year and Carrie was one of the earliest names on their list.
‘Strictly has become the No1 show for so many political figures and Carrie is one of the biggest names — not only as Boris’s better half but as a campaigner and activist in her own right.
‘The offer to take part in the next series is there if she wants to take it, her name has been in the mix for a while and she’d be a brilliant contestant if she chose to take part.’
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Carrie’s glamorous and likeable persona would no doubt prove a hit with viewers and bosses are reportedly hoping she will be keen to sign on.
Saturday night TV: Producers are believed to be convinced that Carrie, 33, will proved a hit with their viewers due to public interest in her life and what she has to offer (pictured last year’s winners Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse)
Carrie and Boris, 56, share their 12-month-old son Wilf.
Fellow political figures who have previously appeared on the show include Ann Widdecombe and Edwina Currie, plus ex-Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls.
On Thursday night, Boris was facing the prospect of a fourth inquiry into the financing of his lavish flat makeover, after Labour reported him to Parliament’s sleaze watchdog.
The Prime Minister insisted yesterday that there was ‘nothing to see’ as he has now paid the £58,000 cost overrun on the Downing Street, and described the row as a ‘farrago of nonsense’.
But veteran former Labour minister Dame Margaret Hodge called for a formal inquiry into allegations that the bill was initially settled by the Conservative Party, which was reimbursed by millionaire Tory donor Lord Brownlow.
In a letter to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Kathryn Stone, Dame Margaret said the PM had ‘repeatedly broken’ the rules that require MPs to declare donations within a month of receipt.
Couple: The alleged offer comes amid reports of her and PM Boris Johnson’s controversial £200,000 flat refurb
Mr Johnson has previously been reprimanded for the late declaration of ten other financial interests, and has been warned he faces ‘enhanced sanctions’ if he breaches the rules again. These include a possible fine or temporary suspension from the Commons.
The latest move came 24 hours after the bombshell announcement from the Electoral Commission that it is launching a formal investigation into the affair.
In a statement that infuriated the PM, the watchdog said: ‘We are now satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to suspect that an offence or offences may have occurred.’
The tangled financing of the PM’s flat refurbishment is already the subject of an internal review by the Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, and is also being investigated by the PM’s new adviser on ministerial interests, Lord Geidt. Downing Street declined to comment on Labour’s decision to seek a further inquiry last night. But a parliamentary source said the move could ‘backfire’ as it was unclear whether Miss Stone has the power to investigate gifts made to Mr Johnson in his capacity as a minister.
As an MP, he has to record all financial interests. But the MPs’ code of conduct states: ‘Members are not required to register either ministerial office or benefits received in their capacity as a minister.’
The Office of the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner declined to comment last night. Downing Street is expected to argue that details of any financial assistance should be reported in the register of ministerial interests, which has not been updated for almost a year.
Nothing to see! Boris said there was ‘nothing to see’ as he has now paid the £58,000 cost overrun on the Downing Street flat he shares with fiancée
Prime ministers are entitled to a £30,000 annual allowance for the maintenance of their Downing Street accommodation, but have to pay any balance above that themselves.
Mr Johnson refused three times on Wednesday to tell MPs who had paid the extra £58,000 thought to have been incurred.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer urged the PM to come clean. The Mail has revealed that the Tory Party settled the bill for the renovations last July. Lord Brownlow secretly wrote to the party in October to say he was reimbursing the party for the £58,000 it had spent.
Neither of the transactions have been recorded by either the PM or his party, and it is not known whether further payments from other individuals might have been involved.
Mr Johnson yesterday insisted it was time to move on from the row. Speaking at the close of a turbulent 16-month session of Parliament, the PM pledged to remain ‘laser-focused on delivering the people’s priorities as we work to unite, level up and increase opportunity all across the UK’.
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