PM will not face criminal probe over Arcuri link

POLITICS: Johnson welcomes news ‘vexatious claims’ have been thrown out

Boris Johnson has avoided a criminal investigation over allegations he used his position while London mayor to get favourable treatment for businesswoman Jennifer Arcuri despite the police watchdog finding evidence they may have had an “intimate relationship”.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it “would have been wise” for Mr Johnson to have declared their “close association” as a conflict of interest, and City Hall will now investigate his conduct.

The prime minister welcomed the development and criticised the “vexatious claims” that he helped aid and reward the American when she received thousands of pounds of public money and access to foreign trade trips he led as mayor.

But, in reviewing whether the PM should face a misconduct in public office investigation, the IOPC found evidence that officials were influenced in their decision-making because they thought there was a “close relationship” between the pair.

IOPC director general Michael Lockwood said: “We found no evidence to indicate that Mr Johnson influenced the payment of any sponsorship monies to Ms Arcuri, or that he influenced or played an active part in securing her participation in trade missions.

“While there was no evidence that Mr Johnson influenced the payment of sponsorship monies or participation in trade missions, there was evidence to suggest that those officers making decisions about sponsorship monies and attendance on trade missions thought that there was a close relationship between Mr Johnson and Ms Arcuri, and this influenced their decisionmaking.”

The IOPC recommended that City Hall considers whether Mr Johnson breached the code of conduct for failing to declare his relationship.”

And, under the Nolan Principles of Public Life, “it would have been wise for Mr Johnson to have declared this as a conflict of interest”, a statement added.

A spokesman for the PM said the months-long scoping exercise “was a waste of police time”.

“We welcome the fact that this politically motivated complaint has been thrown out,” he added. “Such vexatious claims of impropriety in office were untrue and unfounded.”

Neither the PM nor Ms Arcuri have ever denied that they were involved in an affair.

Picture: Shutterstock. The IOPC review established there “may have been an intimate relationship” between Boris Johnson and Jennifer Arcuri during his time as mayor of London.