Why would Boris Johnson need an 800,000 loan?

By Joshua Nevett

BBC Politics

When Boris Johnson was prime minister, he was offered a loan of up to 800,000 to top up his income.

We found this out last week, when details of the loan, and allegations the BBC's chairman, Richard Sharp, was involved in arranging it, surfaced following a report by the Sunday Times.

Mr Sharp denies being involved in any loan, while Mr Johnson says his financial interests have been properly declared.

But why would Mr Johnson need a loan this big in the first place?

Those who know Mr Johnson say they weren't surprised by the size of the size of it.

One source who worked with Mr Johnson in Downing Street said the former prime minister was not an "extravagant person" but that amount of money was "not a lot" to sustain his lifestyle during his premiership.

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During his time at Number 10, there was speculation Mr Johnson was short of cash to cover childcare and divorce costs, among other bills.