BORIS Johnson has refused to confront claims that he tried to secure Government jobs for his wife.
The Tory leader is accused of trying to appoint his now-wife as his £100,000-a-year chief of staff when he was Foreign Secretary in 2018.
Subsequent reports allege he spoke with aides about getting Carrie Johnson two top jobs after taking over at Number 10.
Johnson discussed environmental roles for his wife in autumn 2020, either for the COP26 summit or with the royal family, sources told the Daily Mirror.
At Prime Minister’s Questions, Labour MP Chris Elmore asked: “Has he ever considered the appointment of his current spouse to a Government post or to any organisation in one of the royal households?
“Be honest Prime Minister: yes or no?”
Johnson replied: “I know why the party opposite wants to talk about non-existent jobs in the media because they don’t want to talk about what’s going on in the real world.”
In 2020, the Prime Minister allegedly suggested securing Carrie Johnson a role as green ambassador in the run-up to COP26 or as communications director for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s Earthshot Prize.
Downing Street said he had never recommended Johnson for a Government role, but stopped short of denying that he considered or discussed the move.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The Prime Minister has never recommended Mrs Johnson for a Government role, or one as part of the Earthshot Prize.
“Beyond that I wouldn’t get into any conversations the Prime Minister may or may not have had in private.”
