BORIS JOHNSON has been slammed by Labour’s shadow chief secretary to the Treasury for his behaviour during the growing “cash for curtains” scandal.

Bridget Phillipson criticised the Prime Minister’s “angry rant” when refusing to answer questions over claims that the Conservative Party loaned Johnson money for the work to be carried out.

An Electoral Commission investigation into payments for the refurbishment of the PM’s Downing Street flat has been launched after Mr Johnson spent an estimated £200,000 renovating the property above No 11 Downing Street where he lives with his fiancee, Carrie Symonds.

The body, which oversees political expenditure, is studying claims that Tory Party funds paid for the renovations, that the party may have loaned Mr Johnson the money and that money was handed over by Tory donors, including David Brownlow, to fund the work; establishing a trust via which cash could be channelled.

A rattled Mr Johnson lost his composure, appearing incandescent when challenged over the claims by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer during PMQs this week.

Speaking on a visit to Hitchin on Thursday, Ms Phillipson said: “I think people find it extraordinary that the Prime Minister is unwilling to give straight answers to straightforward questions.

“Time and again at PMQs he refused to answer Keir Starmer’s questions. It does matter because it’s about people’s trust in and integrity in politics. “

The MP for Houghton and Sunderland South called for full transparency around the issue.

“I don’t think it sends a great message. If you’re asked a straightforward question, it is your job, as a politician, to answer it,” she said.

“This is an important issue of trust and confidence and we would expect the PM to answer the question, not get into some angry rant about it."