Report: Court order issued to Boris Johnson over unpaid debt

<p>LONDON &mdash; British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s office said Wednesday it was investigating a report claiming that there is an outstanding court order against Johnson over an allegedly unpaid debt.</p>
<p>Private Eye magazine uncovered an October 2020 county court judgment against Johnson for 535 pounds ($755). The court record, which names the debtor as Boris Johnson of 10 Downing St. in London, does not disclose the identity of the creditor.</p>
<p>County court judgments can be issued if someone fails to respond to a court action over an alleged debt, according to a government website. The judgment means the court has formally decided the money is owed. The government site warns that bailiffs can be sent in if the debt is not paid. </p>
<p>Johnson’s finances are already under scrutiny, with election watchdog the Electoral Commission investigating the funding of renovations to the prime minister’s official residence.</p>
<p>Britain’s parliamentary ethics watchdog is also investigating who paid for Johnson’s vacation on the Caribbean island of Mustique just before the coronavirus pandemic.</p>
<p>Johnson’s spokesman, Max Blain, said officials were “looking into” the reported county court judgment.</p>
<p>“I can confirm it is nothing to do with the refurbishment of the Downing Street estate,” he said.</p>