Guernsey Press

Boris Johnson under continued pressure over personal life

The former foreign secretary has refused to answer questions about his relationship with Carrie Symonds.

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Tory leadership frontrunner Boris Johnson faced continued questions about his personal life as he attempted to shift the focus back onto plans for his premiership.

Mr Johnson has struggled to get his campaign back on track since police were called to a late-night quarrel at the home he shares with partner Carrie Symonds.

He said it was “simply unfair” to “drag” his loved ones into the political arena.

“It’s time this country frankly stopped being so down about its ability to get this thing done,” he said.

He categorically ruled out another Brexit extension, telling TalkRadio the UK would leave the EU by October 31 “do or die”.

Tory leadership race
Boris Johnson taking part in a radio interview with Nick Ferrari at LBC in central London (Press Association Images)

Asked where the photograph had come from, Mr Johnson said: “The longer we spend on things extraneous to what I want to do … the bigger the waste of time.”

In testy exchanges, he said there are “all sorts of pictures of me out on the internet which pop up from time to time”.

When host Nick Ferrari suggested his hairstyle indicated it was an old picture, he said: “This conversation is now descending into farce.”

Carrie Symonds
Carrie Symonds (John Stillwell/PA)

He told LBC: “People are looking at this thing and thinking ‘Parliament is just not going to do this’. But, actually, I think they are.”

He said that “it is vital as a country that we get ready to come out without an agreement if we must” but argued that it would be “bizarre” for the European Union to impose tariffs on trade in that event if the two sides were looking at a future deal.

(PA Graphics)
(PA Graphics)

The former Vote Leave leader, who hopes to become prime minister, also called for a “commonsensical” no-deal Brexit to be left on the table to allow the “incubus” to be “pitchforked off the back of British politics”.

Mr Johnson’s campaign was stepping up a gear with a series of media appearances and events following claims he was a “coward” from leadership rival Jeremy Hunt for shying away from debates.

Tory leadership race
Media outside Boris Johnson’s home in south London (Yui Mok/PA)

Police called by worried neighbours after his partner was heard screaming and shouting “get off me”.

On the BBC, Mr Johnson said: “I do not talk about stuff involving my family, my loved ones.

(PA Graphics)
(PA Graphics)

Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd, who is supporting Mr Hunt, called on Mr Johnson to spell out the details of his Brexit plan.

“This is an incredibly difficult situation and Boris needs to explain how he will deal with both sides of the Conservative Party that have concerns and try and break the impasse with the European Union,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today.

“Enthusiasm and optimism is not sufficient.”

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