Boris Johnson’s night with two property tycoons at Tory fundraiser  

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Boris Johnson’s night with two property tycoons at Tory fundraiser hours before announcement of move to offices they developed

  • Boris Johnson sat with David and Simon Reuben at a Tory fundraiser on Monday 
  • The property tycoons developed offices that several HMRC staff will move to 
  • The move announcement happened hours after the PM shared a table with them










The Prime Minister shared a table with two property tycoons at a Tory fundraiser hours before it was announced thousands of civil servants were moving to offices the pair developed, it can be revealed.

Boris Johnson sat with David and Simon Reuben at the party’s lavish winter ball on Monday evening.

The family of the Mumbai-born brothers – who are worth £21.5billion – have given hundreds of thousands of pounds to the Conservatives.

Jamie Reuben gave £50,000 to the Prime Minister’s Tory leadership bid in 2019. Since Mr Johnson became leader, the 34-year-old has given £816,104 to the party

Ministers yesterday unveiled plans for 9,000 staff at HM Revenue and Customs to be transferred to a development they are building in Newcastle.

Government sources said last night the announcement was in no way connected to the fundraising event or the pair’s donations to the party. There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by the businessmen.

The brothers, who are British citizens, are ranked second on The Sunday Times Rich List. Their close family members have donated a combined £882,104 to the Tories since 2008. 

David’s son Jamie gave £50,000 to Mr Johnson’s Tory leadership bid in 2019. Since Mr Johnson became leader, the 34-year-old has given £816,104 to the party.

Boris Johnson, Simon Reuben and Stanley Johnson in 2014. The Prime Minister sat with David and Simon Reuben at a Tory fundraiser on Monday evening

Boris Johnson, Simon Reuben and Stanley Johnson in 2014. The Prime Minister sat with David and Simon Reuben at a Tory fundraiser on Monday evening

Kim Kardashian attended Jamie Reuben's birthday party in Beverly Hills in California in May this year

Kim Kardashian attended Jamie Reuben’s birthday party in Beverly Hills in California in May this year

Simon’s daughter Lisa has donated £5,000, while David gave £4,000 to Mr Johnson’s London mayoral campaign in 2008.

The brothers took a 10 per cent stake in Newcastle United Football Club earlier this year as part of a Saudi-led takeover, which saw Jamie take a seat on the board.

According to one of his company’s websites, Jamie served as the committee chairman for Mr Johnson’s re-election campaign as London mayor in 2012 and is currently a treasurer of the Conservative Party.

Kim Kardashian attended his birthday party in Beverly Hills in California in May this year.

HMRC yesterday said a nine-storey building being developed by Reuben Brothers in Newcastle city centre will become its base in the North East.

The brothers took a 10 per cent stake in Newcastle United Football Club earlier this year as part of a Saudi-led takeover, which saw Jamie take a seat on the board

The brothers took a 10 per cent stake in Newcastle United Football Club earlier this year as part of a Saudi-led takeover, which saw Jamie take a seat on the board 

Making the announcement, Jim Harra, HMRC’s chief executive, said: ‘HMRC has had a longstanding presence in Newcastle and the wider North East.

‘Signing the lease for the new regional centre is a clear demonstration of our commitment to the area, its economy and our employees based in the North East.’

Steve Barclay, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said: ‘We’re committed to levelling up the country and this hub follows recent expansions in the region from the Treasury and Defra.

‘Moving 9,000 staff into one city centre site will deliver fantastic footfall for local businesses while also making the government property estate greener and more efficient.’

The Conservative Party’s winter ball was held at the V&A Museum in London on Monday evening. In previous years, the event has been named the black and white ball.

A karaoke session with Foreign Secretary Liz Truss sold at auction for £22,000 as part of the fundraiser.

Wealthy donors paid five figure sums for lots giving access to Cabinet ministers. An hour playing cricket with Rishi Sunak went for £35,000, while dinner with Michael Gove attracted a £25,000 bid.

And a ‘Get Brexit Done’ sign from the Tory 2019 general election campaign sold for £30,000.

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