Boris Johnson friend’s ‘luxury lifestyle’ firm handed £1.4m of government money to help super-rich ‘network’ with officials
The IndependentSign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A firm run by Boris Johnson’s tennis partner is being paid £1.4m of government cash to help officials “network” with some of the UK’s richest people, it has been revealed. The money is being paid to Quintessentially, a “luxury lifestyle” company – co-founded by Ben Elliot, an Old Etonian friend of the prime minister – which charges well-heeled clients thousands of pounds to meet powerful people. “Handing over taxpayers’ money to a company run by the Tory Party co-chair just so officials can meet the ‘great and good’ is a blindingly obvious conflict of interest and a shocking waste of money. The professional political class is not great.” Mr Elliot also praised Extinction Rebellion as “marvellous”, saying: “It’s a wonderful thing.
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