BORIS Johnson’s has been forced to defend his conduct in a live Downing Street press conference after being asked about his ties to Jennifer Arcuri.
The Prime Minister was asked if he had acted with “honesty and integrity” in line with the code of conduct for people in public life, following reports about his relationship with the American businesswoman.
Arcuri made fresh allegations last month that she and the Tory leader had a four-year romantic relationship when he was London mayor, in an interview with the Sunday Mirror.
During a live coronavirus briefing from Downing Street, HuffPost’s Paul Waugh asked Johnson about his relationship with Arcuri.
“On Greensill and lobbying, it’s sparked a lot of interest in whether the Nolan principles of public life have any teeth or relevance any more,” the journalist said.
“Do you agree with the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which in its review of your links with Jennifer Arcuri concluded, and I quote, ‘it would have been wise for Mr Johnson to have declared this as a conflict of interest and a failure to do so could have constituted a breach of the Nolan principles’?
“Those principles include acting with honesty and integrity. Do you believe you acted with honesty and integrity in your relationship with Ms Arcuri, who claims you conducted your affair in your marital home?”
READ MORE: Boris Johnson's conduct in the spotlight after Jennifer Arcuri admits affair
After answering a previous question on the expansion of Heathrow, the Prime Minister attempted to nip the follow-up question in the bud.
He replied: “My answer to your second question is yes.”
Boris Johnson was short on details when asked by @paulwaugh if the Nolan principles had any relevance anymore following the Greensill lobbying row and the PM's relationship with Jennifer Arcuri. #downingstreetbriefing pic.twitter.com/TCqyNv5tnd
— HuffPost UK (@HuffPostUK) April 20, 2021
Shortly after the Prime Minister fielded the question, it was revealed the Government was scrapping plans for White House-style press conferences despite more than £2.6 million on the venue in 9 Downing Street.
READ MORE: Boris Johnson scraps White House-style briefings plan after spending £2.6m on venue
Arcuri’s links with Johnson came under public scrutiny last year over allegations she received favourable treatment for her business ventures during his eight-year stint as mayor.
The Tory chief avoided a criminal investigation after the police watchdog found no evidence he had influenced the payment of thousands of pounds of public money to the businesswoman’s or secured her participation in foreign trade trips he led.
However, the IOPC said it “would have been wise” for the former mayor to have declared their “close association” as a conflict of interest.
He still faces an investigation by the Greater London Authority’s (GLA) oversight committee into whether he conducted himself in a way that is expected of people in public office.
Johnson has insisted his dealings with Arcuri were “done with complete propriety” and previously welcomed the IOPC findings, as he criticised the “vexatious claims” against him.
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