Senior political figures, from Keir Starmer to Sajid Javid, have criticised negative briefings that suggest Carrie Johnson is partly to blame for the troubles of her husband’s premiership.
MPs came to the defence of the prime minister’s wife after the publication of extracts from a new book by the Conservative peer Michael Ashcroft which suggested her “behaviour is preventing [Boris Johnson] from leading Britain as effectively as the voters deserve”.
In response, a spokesperson for Carrie Johnson issued a statement saying she “plays no role in government” and had been targeted by enemies of the prime minister in a “brutal briefing campaign”.
Boris Johnson’s leadership is hanging by a thread after scandals over No 10 parties – some of which were also attended by Carrie Johnson – and the funding of the No 11 flat refurbishment, which was her project with the celebrity designer Lulu Lytle.
But Javid, who Carrie Johnson worked for in the past as an adviser, described some of the attacks on her as sexist and misogynistic.
“This whole focus on Carrie Johnson in some of these reports, I think it’s very undignified and very unfair,” said the health secretary.
Starmer said people should not be dragged “into the gutter”.
The Labour leader said: “I approach politics on the basis that we should treat people with respect. We can profoundly disagree but we should treat people with respect. And I would take exactly that approach with Carrie Johnson.
“Obviously, respect differences of opinion, but I do not go along with the idea that we should drag everybody into the gutter.”
The shadow work and pensions secretary, Jonathan Ashworth, also waded in, saying: “I don’t think it’s fair or right at all, and I’ll tell you why. I just think as a general rule, a politician’s partner – any politician, any party – should be off limits.
“It’s the politician that has chosen to have a public life … I think this whole focus on Carrie Johnson in some of these reports, I think it’s very undignified and very unfair.”
Sources have previously told the Guardian that the prime minister’s wife had on occasions tried to have her say on policy issues, particularly on the environment. Former Downing Street insiders said they felt Carrie could make her husband change his mind, sometimes overnight, on an issue they thought was already agreed.
The prime minister would also tell aides that if he did not take a particular course of action, it would anger his wife. They also reported Johnson receiving scores of messages from her during the working day – and her repeatedly calling his staff, insisting the prime minister be hauled out of meetings to talk to her.
Paul Goodman, the editor of the ConservativeHome website, which is owned by Ashcroft, said on Monday that the idea that the prime minister’s wife had partly prevented Johnson from leading effectively was his “impression of the consensus view in Westminster, at least among ministers, MPs and spads”.
However, he also agreed with Carrie Johnson’s defenders that the ultimate responsibility lay with the prime minister.
“Whether the charge is true or not, it deflects from the main point. Which is that the prime minister himself, not his spouse, bears responsibility for his decisions,” he wrote.
“It would be unfair to blame others for them, even his politically engaged wife. After all, he chooses who he divorces, marries and has children with.”
