PM Johnson trashes latest allegation
MANCHESTER: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced political opposition and personal allegations on Monday as he tried to fulfil his pledge to lead Britain out of the European Union in just over a month.
The PMO denied a journalist’s claim that Johnson tried to inappropriately touch her at a lunch two decades ago. Sunday Times columnist Charlotte Edwardes said the incident took place when she worked at The Spectator, a newsmagazine, while Johnson was its editor. Johnson’s office said, “This allegation is untrue.”
Edwardes responded by tweeting, “If the prime minister doesn’t recollect the incident, then clearly I have a better memory than he does.”
Johnson also is under scrutiny for claims that an American businesswoman, Jennifer Arcuri, received money and perks from London coffers while Johnson was mayor of the British capital. He denies wrongdoing.
The allegations overshadowed the Conservative Party’s fourday annual conference in Manchester, where Johnson is trying to rally the party under the slogan “Get Brexit Done”.
Johnson has vowed that Britain will leave the EU on the scheduled date of October 31, with or without a divorce deal governing future relations with the bloc. The personal allegations were a distraction from that effort and overshadowed the conference.
The UK’s treasury chief Sajid Javid said he had “full faith in the prime minister”, adding, “I don’t think it’s a good idea to get drawn into personal allegations.”
Meanwhile, opposition parties, who want to prevent a no-deal Brexit, were due to meet in London late on Monday to plan their next move.