The Byline Times ran a piece entitled “Home Office fails to explain strange expenses”, in which they investigated the reported spend on the department’s expenses logs. Among the outgoings included £107,269.40 spent with Global Beauty Products Limited, and £5,415.90 at Primark. Skwawkbox reprinted the investigation, claiming the Home Office’s procurement card “revealed list of shocking spending”. Guido reckons both outlets are about to experience some red faces… 

Guido’s made some inquiries and, without much effort, discovered:

• The spending with Global Beauty Products Limited and “SP Beautiful Brows” was for the firm’s professional level PPE. Not new eyebrows for Priti Patel…
• The Primark spending was on new clothes for migrants.

A Home Office source tells Guido much of the £5,400 Primark claim was, in fact, for refugees – not just clothes for migrants. The Byline Times prides itself in reporting “what the papers don’t say” – turns out there’s good reason for that…

UPDATE: A couple more contentious spends explained:
– £3,774.29 at Pollyana Restaurant was a hire charge for training
– £900 at The Magdalen Arms was hiring the place out as a training venue for staff