- New texts show
Boris Johnson discussing a 'Great Exhibition 2.0' with a donor. - In the exchange Johnson was asking Lord Brownlow for money to revamp his Downing Street flat.
A Tory donor's concept for an event dubbed the "Great Exhibition 2.0" was not taken forward, Downing Street has insisted — although something very similar was.
The hypothetical event came up in a series of text messages published on Thursday, in which Boris Johnson requested more funding for the refurbishment of his Downing Street flat from Lord Brownlow, a Tory peer and donor.
The Prime Minister in the exchange said that he is "on the great exhibition plan Will revert."
Brownlow replied, assuring Johnson that he would get extra funding "sorted", and added: "Thanks for thinking of GE."
The Prime Minister's spokesman later journalists that plans for such an exhibition were dropped — although was repeatedly unable to explain the difference between what Brownlow mentioned and the government's Festival UK, which is due to take place later this year.
The spokesman said: "That [Great Exhibition] was an idea that wasn't taken forward. The Government is instead taking forward Festival UK in 2022."
Asked why, he replied: "I don't have details of the conversations… but you can see this isn't something we have taken forward."
According to the register of ministerial meetings, Brownlow joined then-culture secretary Oliver Dowden for a meeting with representatives of the Royal Albert Hall last January "to discuss plans for Great Exhibition 2.0".
Brownlow, who initially covered the £52,000 cost of Johnson's flat upgrade personally before the Prime Minister stepped in, is a trustee of the Royal Albert Hall.
Asked why Brownlow joined the meeting, the spokesman merely repeated that his proposal had not been taken forward.
Asked if the peer would be involved in Festival UK, the Prime Minister's spokesman said: "Not that I am aware of."
Insider contacted the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for comment.