Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Boris row was so frightening I had to call police
Neighbour tells all because ‘likely PM should be held to account’
A WORRIED neighbour said he called cops as Boris Johnson and lover Carrie Symonds rowed after hearing a “loud scream... then silence”.
Tom Penn went public last night, saying: “I believe it is reasonable for someone who is likely to become our next Prime Minister to be held accountable for all of their words, actions, and behaviours.”
Mr Penn dialled 999 because he “felt frightened and
BORIS Johnson was yesterday asked to explain why police were called to his lover’s flat – and he refused to answer SEVEN TIMES.
He was repeatedly quizzed at the first Tory leadership hustings with Jeremy Hunt, his rival for No10.
But Mr Johnson brazenly dodged questions about the reported row with lover Carrie Symonds, 31, in the early hours of Friday.
Mr Johnson, 55, stonewalled when questioned by LBC presenter Iain Dale on what happened.
Police were called to Ms Symonds’ flat in Camberwell, South London, after reports of screaming.
The Tory told Mr Dale: “I don’t think people want to hear about that kind of thing. What they want to hear are what my plans are for the country and our party.”
As Mr Dale persisted the audience jeered and Mr Johnson appealed to them not to boo. When accused of ducking the question, Mr Johnson said: “People are entitled to ask me what I want to do for the country.”
Mr Dale tried again: “If the police are called to your home it makes it everyone’s business.
CHARACTER
“You are running for office of not just Conservative Party leader, but Prime Minister, so a lot of people who admire your politics do call into question your character, and it is incumbent on you to answer that question.”
Mr Johnson accepted that was a fair point, but then began speaking about “open platforms on the back of new Routemaster buses” when he was London Mayor.
The radio man gave up, saying: “You’re not going to make any comment?”
To laughter, Mr Johnson replied: “That’s pretty obvious from the foregoing.” After steering questioning away from his private life, Mr Johnson promised to increase spending on infrastructure, education and highspeed broadband, and again pledged it was “feasible” to leave the EU on October 31. Laughter filled the room after Mr Johnson was asked to cite a period of personal crisis.
He answered: “The London riots.” Asked if this was a personal crisis, he said: “Yeah. I was on holiday.”
He added: “I was 400 miles from the
nearest airport. I had arrived at Calgary and I had to hire two cars to get back. I drove 400 miles and as I got to the airport there was BBC footage of these riots.
“I felt an absolutely overwhelming sense of obligation and duty and horror.
“When I got there I did absolutely everything I could to bring everybody together and turn it round.”
After some Tory leadership candidates had admitted to taking drugs earlier in the campaign, he was asked whether the law on drugs was appropriate in the 21st century.
Referencing an admission he had taken cocaine while at university, which he later denied, he replied: “I’m not an enthusiast for people taking more drugs.
“I think drugs are bad, notwithstanding the solitary and inconclusive event which has been documented extensively in my room when I was 19.”
The reception for Mr Johnson shows his campaign is still very much alive – and it seems Tory members are ready to forgive the latest lapse which would have destroyed the leadership hopes of another politician.
Foreign Secretary Mr Hunt warned the Tories against electing a populist leader.
He said: “Get things wrong and there will be no Conservative government and maybe even no Conservative Party.
“Get things right and we can deliver Brexit, unite the party and send Jeremy Corbyn packing.”
He promised he would not call a general election before Brexit. And he said he, too, would take the UK out of the EU without a deal on October 31 if there was no sign of renegotiation. He said: “The political risk of no Brexit is far worse than the economic risk of no deal.”