A county court judgment against Boris Johnson for a debt of £535 has been making the rounds on social media today.
Downing Street said the debt claim against the prime minister was “totally without merit” after an application was lodged in an attempt to strike it out.
Official records showed an “unsatisfied record” for the unpaid debt was registered to Mr Johnson at “10 Downing Street”, with the judgment dated October 26 last year.
An additional file shows the claim was made by a claimant named Yvonne Hobbs against “The Rt Hon Boris Johnson”.
The reasons cited for the claim were “defamation” and “committed repeated defamation”.
The judgment, first reported by Private Eye magazine, raised eyebrows as it was dated during a key period concerning questions over the Prime Minister’s controversial refurbishment to his flat in No 11.
Boris v. the bailiffs? A county court judgement for unpaid debt was issued last October against one Boris Johnson, address 10 Downing Street – and six months on, it STILL hasn’t been paid. An exclusive in the new Private Eye, on sale today.
— Private Eye Magazine (@PrivateEyeNews) May 12, 2021
Reactions
Here’s what people have had to say:
1.
Thank goodness he didn’t drink a mojito on a train… https://t.co/6K9NRo9EGS
— James O’Brien (@mrjamesob) May 12, 2021
2.
I’m sure Boris Johnson can clear his £535 debt he can just ask whichever Tory donor paid for all his wallpaper
— dave ❄️ ? ? (@davemacladd) May 12, 2021
3.
On arrival at 10 Downing Street, the Baliffs removed 3/4s of a roll of wallpaper to cover the debt. https://t.co/TQQFUecGLo
— Stevie (@heeney77) May 12, 2021
4.
An episode of “Can’t Pay? We’ll Take it Away!” in which bailiffs entered Number 10 Downing Street and confiscated some of Carrie Antoinette’s mumsy frocks in part-payment of her fella’s County Court Judgement would be worth getting the popcorn out for.
— Elinor Elliot (@ElliotElinor) May 12, 2021
5.
If Johnson had papered his flat with CCJ notices, he’d still have saved money!
— John Appleby (@JohnApplebyLD) May 12, 2021
6.
Be funny if they take away his new furniture. https://t.co/K9GY3MK6iW
— Adam Kay (@amateuradam) May 12, 2021
7.
Outstanding CCJ’s usually prevent you from holding a security clearance. This fucker is in charge of the nuclear codes. pic.twitter.com/mUXAUq0WdT
— jojo77 ? (@other_mrs) May 12, 2021
8.
If you have a CCJ, you’re not allowed to buy a sofa on credit from DFS
— Marina Purkiss (@MarinaNigrelli) May 12, 2021
But it’s fine for you to have final say over the purse strings of an entire countryhttps://t.co/X1qG0wCNfq
9.
If you have bad credit/CCJs there are some jobs you can’t get, one of the reasons being you’d be more susceptible to bribery. @BorisJohnson I’m doing 2 + 2 and I think the answer will shock you…
— Kelechi (@kelechnekoff) May 12, 2021
10.
Strong “looking your boss up on the GMC website because idk he seems a bit dodgy” vibes from Private Eye on this one pic.twitter.com/n0UDr6HBAW
— Zack Ferguson (@zackferguson) May 12, 2021
11.
In March @BorisJohnson said: “I believe that we all owe a massive debt to our nurses and, indeed, all our healthcare workers and social care workers”.
— Angela Rayner (@AngelaRayner) May 12, 2021
So when he pays this debt off, he can pay that debt off too and give them a proper pay rise. https://t.co/xWqpjUIwkd
12.
The First Lord of The treasury has an unpaid debt of £535 and a county court judgement against him. I wonder what this has done to 10 Downing Streets credit rating. https://t.co/HKtp3xEw2t
— Jay Rayner (@jayrayner1) May 12, 2021
13.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Tory donor with £535 to spare. DM me for details. https://t.co/qDUZx8n60Y
— Parody Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson_MP) May 12, 2021
14.
New season of Cant Pay We’ll Take It Away is going to be amazing https://t.co/OfFjxhL43X pic.twitter.com/vY43JFmpvO
— AdamsRegen89 (@ChaudhryStuff) May 12, 2021
15.
Today we’re at 10 Downing Street, as a man by the name of Boris Johnson has refused to pay his £535 debt pic.twitter.com/Rqx2trpur7
— #11 (@endzChancellor) May 12, 2021
Related: Johnson’s county court judgement is over alleged defamation – reports