‘close’ friendship, investigators warn

required that “any personal interest like this must be declared”.

He said: “I’m not clear that Boris Johnson has actually done that, and actually declared this very personal interest. He should have made it clear, the nature of their relationship.”

The code incorporates the “principles of public life” which include not acting “to gain financial or other benefits for themselves, their family or their friends”. The GLA probe is one of four i nve s t i g a t i o n s into £126,500 of public money awarded to Ms Arcuri’s firms, including sponsorship for two events of £10,000 and £1,500 from London & Partners, the Mayor’s promotions agency, in 2013 and 2014.

She was also granted access to three foreign trade missions in 2014 and 2015, led by Mr Johnson while he was mayor. Ms Arcuri was granted access to two of the trips following intervention by mayoral aides after being initially refused.

Ms Arcuri today “categorically” denied asking Mr Johnson for public money or discussing sponsorship for her firms. “Never in my life — categorically no,” she told ITV’s Good Morning Britain. Mr Johnson has insisted he had no interest to declare.