PM Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie Johnson walk along the boardwalk during an official welcome of guests at the G7 summit in Carbis Bay, Cornwall in June 2021. Credit:AP
Lord Ashcroft, writing in The Mail on Sunday, said his research had suggested Mrs Johnson’s “behaviour is preventing him [Mr Johnson] from leading Britain as effectively as the voters deserve”.
It has been alleged that Mrs Johnson was at the centre of a number of scandals involving the Prime Minister, including the luxury redecoration of the flat the couple share in No 11, and that she was key in flying animals out of Kabul.
No 10 has denied Mr or Mrs Johnson had any involvement in the evacuation.
The book also claims Mrs Johnson forced out a special adviser, Ellie Lyons, because she was “attractive and intelligent”. Sarah Vine, who recently separated from Michael Gove, said claims about Mrs Johnson’s role were sexist.
“It’s always the easiest thing to do to blame the woman and the truth is far more complicated than that,” she said.
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“If Boris Johnson has given Carrie too much access or too much leeway, that’s sort of his fault. He is the person in charge. He is the Prime Minister.”
George Osborne, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer, said: “Whatever the flaws and faults of the Boris Johnson government – or indeed it’s successes – they are the responsibility of Boris, not his wife Carrie.”
Sunday, Mrs Johnson was also defended by Kwasi Kwarteng, the Business Secretary, who said the ire aimed at her was “interesting”.
He said: “The reportage that somehow she’s got undue influence, I don’t think that’s true. The Prime Minister has been in politics for 25 years and has a pretty strong set of ideas.”
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In the book, former cabinet minister John Whittingdale, who Mrs Johnson previously worked for, said the influence she was said to have was inaccurate. “I’m sure Boris and Carrie discuss things in a way that previous spouses would not, because they were much less political,” he said.
“Samantha Cameron had little interest in politics. Philip May didn’t have a great knowledge of politics.
“This is the first time the PM’s wife has been a committed political activist and had knowledge and experience of working in politics, so of course it’s going to be talked about. But she’s very good. She advised me for 15 months, so I know she’s good.”
Carrie Johnson says bitter ex-officials behind ‘control’ allegations of her
Source: Philippines Alive
