Johnson battles sex allegations as opponents plot to oust him
BRITISH PM FORCED TO DENY HE GROPED A JOURNALIST AT A LUNCH 20 YEARS AGO
Boris Johnson hoped to use his Conservative Party’s annual convention to launch his campaign to win the next British general election.
Instead, he is fighting for his credibility as prime minister as he faces allegations of sexual impropriety and plots to oust him.
After two months in charge of the UK government, Johnson was forced to deny he groped a journalist at a lunch around 20 years ago, and batted away allegations that he had a sexual relationship with a businesswoman and authorised taxpayer-funded sponsorship for her company during his time as London Mayor.
The furore overshadowed his first appearance as prime minister at his ruling Conservative party’s annual conference in Manchester, England. The grass roots members propelled him to power in July after he promised to complete the UK’s divorce from the European Union by the deadline of October 31.
Johnson sought to double down on his Brexit pledge, making the theme of the party convention: “Get Brexit Done.”
The UK was due to leave the EU on March 29 but the failure of previous prime minister Theresa May to win backing for the divorce deal she negotiated forced her to seek to delay the country’s departure twice, before eventually she gave up and resigned.
Denial
On Sunday evening Johnson’s office took the unusual step of flatly denying one claim, that around 20 years ago he inappropriately touched the leg of a junior journalist working on the magazine he was then editing.
However, some of Johnson’s senior ministers were less clear in their backing for their leader. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he knows and “entirely trusts” Charlotte Edwardes, the journalist who made the allegation that the premier put his hand on her thigh. In a round of interviews yesterday, Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid refused to defend Johnson directly, saying he would not be drawn into direct questions about the claims. ■
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