The note that put Carrie in the doghouse
BORIS Johnson refused to back fiancee Carrie Symonds’ complaint to The Times after it claimed the couple ‘callously’ wanted to get rid of their pet dog Dilyn. He objected on the basis that the proposed complaint, drawn up at the start of the Covid crisis, was ‘a nonsense’.
A copy of the draft letter was leaked to the Daily Mail after Dominic Cummings told MPs on Wednesday that Miss Symonds went ‘completely crackers’ over a report claiming the couple hated Dilyn.
Mr Johnson’s former chief adviser Mr Cummings said Miss Symonds’ reaction had diverted the Prime Minister’s attention at a crucial stage ahead of the first lockdown. He was also dealing with a demand by Donald Trump for Britain to back bombing raids in the Middle East.
The leaked letter shows Miss Symonds wanted Mr Johnson to support her formal protest that Jack russell cross Dilyn was not ‘chronically ill’ and there were no plans to ‘callously rehome’ him.
The draft letter, in both their names, was prepared after Miss Symonds was enraged by an article in The Times on March 11 last year. It was addressed to The Times and in it, the couple threatened to take their complaint to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO).
The article said Dilyn could be put up for adoption because the couple were fed up with trying to house train the ‘sickly animal’.
MISS Symonds denounced the story as ‘total c**p’ on social media. And when The Times refused to print an apology, she urged Mr Johnson to write to it.
But after reportedly telling Miss Symonds he would send the letter, Mr Johnson changed his mind after Mr Cummings intervened, according to well-placed sources.
‘The PM went along with it initially because Carrie was very cross,’ said an insider. ‘It was none of Dom’s business but he hated Carrie and went berserk. He told the PM it was a waste of time – and the PM agreed. He sympathised with Carrie’s feelings but said, “I can’t sign this – it’s a nonsense”.’
Mr Johnson’s decision to not complain came after Mr Cummings was told he could not attend a Covid meeting because he was dealing with the Dilyn row.
Eight months later, Mr Cummings was ousted from his No10 post when he lost a power struggle with Miss Symonds.
In his evidence on Wednesday, Mr Cummings said: ‘The Prime Minister’s girlfriend was going completely crackers about this story. Part of the building was saying “Are we going to bomb Iraq?” Part of the building was arguing whether or not we’re going to do or not do quarantine. The Prime Minister has got his girlfriend going crackers about something completely trivial.’ He also accused Miss Symonds of intervening in a key No10 appointment in a way that was ‘not only completely unethical but also clearly illegal’.
According to a well-placed No 10 source, there was another reason Mr Johnson did not complain about the report. ‘It was essentially true,’ said the source. ‘At one stage there was talk of getting rid of Dilyn. Carrie loves the dog but Boris has never been a fan. It drove him round the bend.’
Downing Street declined to comment last night.