Boris Johnson has faced the most troubling scandal of his prime ministerial career to date

over questions about who exactly paid for the refurbishment of his Downing Street residents.

He has, often, our every week to put serious and sensible questions to me,

and he goes on and on, Mr Speaker, about wallpaper when, as I've told him,

umpteen times now, I paid for it.

Welcome to Payne's Politics, your essential insider guide to what's happening

in British politics from the financial times, with me Sebastian Payne.

In this episode, we'll be analysing what's been called the cash for curtain scandal,

involving Boris Johnson's flat. We'll be examining the trio of different investigations

facing the prime minister over who paid for the refurb, and what impact this might have

on next week's elections. Political editor George Parker and political columnist Robert

will guide us through. And later, I'll be looking at the departure of Arlene Foster

as leader of Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, who her likely successor

as First Minister will be, and what it tells us about the state of the union.

Our Ireland correspondent Lauren Union will discuss with special guest Sam McBride from the

Belfast newsletter. But first, George and Robert, great to have you back as always.

Pleasure, I said. So, everything this week has been about plush interior designing work,

and all the works that have gone on within number 11 Downing Street. And we've heard a lot about

the upmarket design of it. It's inspired Mr Johnson, his fiance Carrie Simon's to redecorate

number 11 Downing Street. When you saw and heard this, George,

what'd it make you think about your home, and whether it needs a bit of a revamp?

Well, it made me think I better not invite Carrie Simon's and Boris Johnson around to my house.

...