BORIS JOHNSON was ridiculed today following reports that he told friends he needed a £300,000 salary “just to get by.”  

The Prime Minister is under continued scrutiny amid allegations that he was given money directly by donors for renovations to his Downing Street flat. 

The Sunday Times reported today that the Tory leader — one of Britain’s highest earners —  told friends he needs to earn about £300,000 a year — twice his ministerial salary — simply to keep his head above water. 

A source told the paper it was received wisdom that Mr Johnson was permanently broke.

Downing Street said the PM has now covered the costs of the redecoration but it still failed to say that these costs were initially covered by Mr Johnson. 

An probe has now been launched by the Electoral Commission to look into whether donations or loans to pay for the refurbishment of the flat were properly declared. 

According to the Institute of Fiscal Studies, a salary of £300,000 would place Mr Johnson in the top 0.5 per cent of taxpayers in Britain; it is almost £270,000 more than the country’s median wage. 

Labour MP Jon Trickett said the claims about Mr Johnson’s salary needs were “the classic Tory: Do as I say, not as I do.”

In response to a question on today’s BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross declared that Mr Johnson should “of course” quit if he is found to have breached the ministerial code. Mr Ross  previously called for the resignation of SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon if she had broken the rules.

His comment came amid signs that a string of allegations over donations may be damaging the Tories ahead of Thursday’s elections.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab defended Mr Johnson but declined to say whether the PM should resign if he is found to have broken the law by the Electoral Commission.

The Prime Minister remains the ultimate arbiter of the code: he gets the final say on whether he broke the rules — a situation Labour says allows him to be his own “judge and jury.” The opposition is calling for reform of the rules.