Johnsons needed bubble ‘during really tough times’

CARRIE and Boris Johnson needed help from Nimco Ali because of the challenges of running the country and difficult pregnancies, according to a Cabinet minister.

Anne-marie Trevelyan insisted that the Prime Minister having Mrs Johnson’s close friend to form a “childcare bubble” over Christmas last year was “absolutely the right thing to do”.

The International Trade Secretary told Today on Radio 4 yesterday: “I have no doubt at all the Prime Minister and Mrs Johnson followed the rules and they had the kind support of Nimco to support them in what was a really tough time for them. It’s hard enough for the rest of us, when you’re having to run a country as well and have the challenges of difficult pregnancies, having a supportive friend to be there in your bubble is absolutely the right thing to do.”

In July, Mrs Johnson revealed she had a miscarriage at the start of the year in the hope that “sharing her grief ” will help others.

Ms Ali, an independent government adviser on tackling violence against women and girls, is godmother to Wilfred, the Johnsons’ one-year-old son.

The lockdown “childcare bubble” rules were open to anyone living with a child under 14, allowing friends or family from another household to provide help in looking after the child. The rules stipulated that parents could only make use of a bubble for help with looking after children and not for socialising.

Mr Johnson’s official spokesman said on Monday: “The Prime Minister and Mrs Johnson have followed the coronavirus rules at all times.”