DOWNING Street has denied reports that the Prime Minister is to take legal action against a British newspaper.
The New European claimed their editor had been told Boris Johnson was to sue them for defamation following a story they published about his dining with former Telegraph journalists after taking a private jet from COP26.
In reportage firmly denied by Downing Street, the paper claimed Johnson told those in attendance at the dinner at the all-male Garrick Club that he had regrets about marrying his wife Carrie Johnson.
The paper claimed Johnson told those in attendance he had “buyer’s remorse” about the wedding.
One dinner guest allegedly told The New European: “Clearly he just assumed he was amongst friends, but it was a remarkable thing to say and there were a number of raised eyebrows around the table.”
Downing Street has firmly denied the story has any truth, with a spokesperson allegedly telling the paper’s editor via text: “The Prime Minister did not make this remark. The allegation is untrue and defamatory.”
The New European said its editor, Matt Kelly, was called by a Number 10 press officer on Thursday night to inform him that Johnson would be taking legal action over the story.
The paper said it stands by the truth of its piece.
However, asked about the legal action, the Prime Minister’s spokesperson denied that there was any, and refuted The New European’s story entirely.
They said: “The Prime Minister has been clear he never made those remarks, they’re completely untrue, they were never said.”
The spokesperson repeatedly denied that Johnson was looking to take legal action.
In a statement released by Kelly on Friday afternoon, the New European said it stood by both of its stories.
Carrie Johnson is currently pregnant with her second child by Boris Johnson.
The New European is a pro-EU paper which began publication in the wake of the UK’s Leave vote in the 2016 referendum.
Originally owned by publisher Archant, the paper was bought out in February of this year by a consortium including Kelly, the newspaper’s founder, Mark Thompson, the former New York Times chief executive and former director-general of the BBC, and former Financial Times editor Lionel Barber.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel