PM must be beyond question

Boris Johnson’s four-year affair with Jennifer Arcuri poses many questions about his conduct and character, his honesty and integrity. They are questions the PM has so far refused to answer.

Today we reveal how Mr Johnson texted Ms Arcuri to say he was her “number one supporter”. This raises even more questions. How big was that support? What did it consist of? Did Ms Arcuri benefit professionally from it?

Was being her number one supporter in any way linked to the £126,000 of taxpayer money Ms Arcuri’s firms received, or the three trade missions she went on?

And it prompts the number one question – why is the PM staying so silent?

No leader can govern effectively without the trust of the people he represents.

But that trust is not a given. It must be won. And it can just as easily be lost.

That is why Mr Johnson should agree to appear in person before the Greater London Authority’s oversight committee so outstanding matters relating to his conduct can be cleared up.

If there is nothing to hide, such a faceto-face should be a breeze for Mr Johnson.

If there is, the British people have a right to know about it.