Nothing to say: Boris Johnson stays silent on late-night row
Critics say latest incident in turbulent private life underlines questions of character
Would-be PM refuses to talk about fight with girlfriend that led neighbours to call police
I don’t think people want to hear about that kind of thing – Boris Johnson yesterday after refusing to discuss police call-out to his home
Boris Johnson refused to discuss the late-night row with his girlfriend that led to neighbours calling the police because they were worried about her safety.
Critics said the incident has again raised questions about his character that should scupper his bid to become Prime Minister. Johnson’s political minders have mostly kept him away from the cameras during the campaign in a bid to avoid damaging gaffes. But he and rival candidate Jeremy Hunt faced direct questions yesterday afternoon in the first hustings of the Tory leadership race, just hours after it emerged police had been called to the London home Johnson shares with girlfriend Carrie Symonds. She was not seen in public yesterday. Neighbours called 999 after hearing – and recording – a loud altercation involving screaming, shouting and banging.
At one point Ms Symonds was allegedly heard telling Johnson to “get off me” and “get out of my flat”.
Scotland Yard said it was alerted to the situation by a caller who “was concerned for the welfare of a female neighbour”.
Questioned at the hustings in Birmingham yesterday, Johnson said: “I don’t think they want to hear about that kind of thing.” But his refusal to answer questions was criticised by opposition politicians, and even some of his own MPS. Labour Shadow Scottish Secretary Lesley Laird said: “Boris Johnson’s silence on the matter is deafening. He must explain what went on inside the property. “This is another example of why he is simply not fit to be Prime Minister.” Political commentator Iain Dale, moderating yesterday’s hustings, was booed by the audience of Tory members when he asked about Johnson’s personal life. Johnson said: “I think what people want to know is whether I have the determination and the courage to deliver on the commitments that I’m making and it will need a lot of grit right now.”
He added: “People are entitled to ask about me and my determination, my character and what I want to do for the country.
“Let me just tell you that when I make a promise in politics, about what I’m going to do, I keep that promise and I deliver.”
Dale told Johnson he was “completely avoiding” the question. Backing Dale, Tory MP and Jeremy Hunt supporter Vicky Ford said in a tweet: “He’s right to ask questions that are on people’s minds.”
Fellow Tory MP Simon Hoare also wrote: “We need a leader and PM where half the interview time isn’t spent explaining away or ignoring gaffes and upsets caused. Our country is too important. “We don’t want Trumpian ‘fake news’ and booing supporters drowning people out.”
Craig Oliver, who was director of communications for former PM David Cameron, tweeted that Johnson’s silence was only “stoking” the situation.
“A clean answer acknowledging we’re all human and appealing for privacy is better,” he said.
The Guardian newspaper said it had heard a recording of the incident in which Mr Johnson could allegedly be heard saying “get off my f ****** laptop” before a loud crashing noise.
Ms Symonds could also be heard saying Mr Johnson had damaged a sofa with red wine.
“You just don’t care for anything because you’re spoilt. You have no care for money or anything,” Ms Symonds is reported to have said. Last night, the neighbour who contacted the police – and then the Guardian – released his side of the story.
Tom Penn, 29, said he wanted to set the record straight over his reasons for recording the row and then dialling 999.
He said: “In the early hours of
Friday morning, I answered a phone call from a takeaway food delivery driver. At the same time, I heard what sounded like shouting coming from the street.
“I went downstairs, on the phone to the driver, and collected my food. On the way back into my flat, it became clear that the shouting was coming from a neighbour’s flat.
“It was loud enough and angry enough that I felt frightened and concerned for the welfare of those involved, so I went inside my own home, closed the door, and pressed record on the voice memos app on my phone. After a loud scream and banging, followed by silence, I ran upstairs, and with my wife agreed that we should check on our neighbours.
“I knocked three times at their front door, but there was no response.
“I went back upstairs into my flat, and we agreed that we should call the police. The police arrived within five minutes. “Once clear that no one was harmed, I contacted the Guardian, as I felt it was of important public interest.
“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.”
The Metropolitan Police said it had responded to a call from a local resident at 12.24am on Friday, but after officers attended it was deemed “there were no offences or concerns” and there was no cause for police action. Former attorney general Dominic Grieve said the issue of character was important in the Tory leadership race.
He said: “I think the issue of any candidate’s character, standing for the leadership of a party, and aiming to be a Prime Minister is going to be relevant.
“And has to be relevant because they are going to be in a position of responsibility where they have to make very important decisions.” SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford branded Johnson a “racist” who is “not fit for office” at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday.
He said that Johnson had previously called Muslim women wearing burkas “letterboxes”, described African people as having “watermelon smiles” and wrote in an article that “Scottish people are a verminous race that should be placed in ghettos and exterminated”.
After reports of the late-night row emerged, he tweeted: “I have raised the issue of the suitability of Johnson for the office of Prime Minister. “Whatever the circumstances of this and whether we will find out more there are too many incidents that question his suitability. In Scotland, we have an alternative.”