Johnson battles groping allegations
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson battled allegations of improper patronage and groping a woman while Opposition MPs hatched a plan to remove him from office as he prepares a final push to lead his country out of the European Union.
Johnson sought to energise Conservative members and lawmakers at the party’s annual conference, but was forced to deny a journalist’s claim that he grabbed her thigh at a private lunch two decades ago.
Sunday Times columnist Charlotte Edwardes said the incident took place when she worked at The Spectator, a conservative newsmagazine, while Johnson was its editor.
Asked if the allegation was true, Johnson said: “No.”
Johnson also is under scrutiny for claims an American businesswoman, Jennifer Arcuri, received money and perks from London coffers while Johnson was mayor between 2008 and 2016. He denies any wrongdoing involving Arcuri, who was given grants and places on overseas trade trips for her small tech startup. The case has been referred to Britain’s police watchdog, which will decide whether to investigate Johnson for misconduct in public office. On another front, politicians determined to stop Johnson leaving the European Union have hit upon an arcane constitutional trick that relies on Queen Elizabeth II to fire him, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Under the plan, a so-called Humble Address could be used to remove Johnson if he refuses to send a letter to the EU on October 19 requesting a delay to Brexit.
A Humble Address is a message from the House of Commons to the Queen as head of state and arbiter of the constitution. This method was recently used to force the government to reveal details about its Brexit planning.
It could also be used to instruct the queen to appoint another member of Parliament as prime minister and to form a government.
A Cabinet minister, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they had taken their own legal advice that a Humble Address cannot be used to oust the premier.
Dominic Grieve, a former Conservative Attorney General, who was expelled from the party for voting against Johnson’s Brexit plan, said there could now be enough MPs to back a government of national unity.