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Jennifer Arcuri refuses to answer Boris Johnson relationship questions | Jennifer Arcuri refuses to answer Boris Johnson relationship questions |
(30 minutes later) | |
A US businesswoman has refused to say whether she had an intimate relationship with Boris Johnson when he was London mayor. | A US businesswoman has refused to say whether she had an intimate relationship with Boris Johnson when he was London mayor. |
Jennifer Arcuri has been at the centre of a row over whether the now-prime minister failed to declare a conflict of interest over their relationship. | Jennifer Arcuri has been at the centre of a row over whether the now-prime minister failed to declare a conflict of interest over their relationship. |
She told ITV's Good Morning Britain he spoke at four events she ran, and came to her flat "a handful" of times. | She told ITV's Good Morning Britain he spoke at four events she ran, and came to her flat "a handful" of times. |
But she insisted Mr Johnson "never, ever gave me any favouritism". | But she insisted Mr Johnson "never, ever gave me any favouritism". |
Mr Johnson has said everything was done "entirely in the proper way". | Mr Johnson has said everything was done "entirely in the proper way". |
The story first emerged in the Sunday Times, with claims technology entrepreneur Ms Arcuri had joined trade missions led by Mr Johnson and received thousands of pounds in public money. | The story first emerged in the Sunday Times, with claims technology entrepreneur Ms Arcuri had joined trade missions led by Mr Johnson and received thousands of pounds in public money. |
The newspaper claimed she had received favourable treatment due to her friendship with Mr Johnson. | The newspaper claimed she had received favourable treatment due to her friendship with Mr Johnson. |
But Ms Arcuri said he was just "a really good friend", and "categorically" had "nothing to do with my other achievements". | |
The current London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, has launched an investigation into the allegations at City Hall, and the Greater London Authority's Oversight Committee has given Mr Johnson 14 days - ending this week - to explain his relationship. | |
The BBC's political editor, Laura Kuenssberg, said it could be the GLA's code of conduct that really matters in this case - it says public office holders should not act in any way to gain benefits for families or friends, and should declare private interests to resolve any conflicts. | The BBC's political editor, Laura Kuenssberg, said it could be the GLA's code of conduct that really matters in this case - it says public office holders should not act in any way to gain benefits for families or friends, and should declare private interests to resolve any conflicts. |
Mr Johnson has also been referred to the police watchdog, who will consider whether there are grounds to investigate the prime minister for the criminal offence of misconduct in public office. | Mr Johnson has also been referred to the police watchdog, who will consider whether there are grounds to investigate the prime minister for the criminal offence of misconduct in public office. |
Asked repeatedly on the ITV breakfast programme whether she was having an affair with Mr Johnson when he was mayor, Ms Arcuri refused to answer. | Asked repeatedly on the ITV breakfast programme whether she was having an affair with Mr Johnson when he was mayor, Ms Arcuri refused to answer. |
"I am not going to be putting myself in a position for you to weaponise my answer," she said. | "I am not going to be putting myself in a position for you to weaponise my answer," she said. |
She did confirm he had visited her home - which was also her office - "five, 10, a handful of times", but added: "It's really not anyone's business what private life we had." | She did confirm he had visited her home - which was also her office - "five, 10, a handful of times", but added: "It's really not anyone's business what private life we had." |
They had tried to meet in public, she went on, but it "became too much of a mob show". | |
"So I said 'you just have to come to my office.'" | |
On the issue of trade missions, Ms Arcuri said she had access because of the work she was doing - not because of any relationship with Mr Johnson. | On the issue of trade missions, Ms Arcuri said she had access because of the work she was doing - not because of any relationship with Mr Johnson. |
"At the end of the day, I was allowed to go on that trade mission as a delegate because of who I was," she said. | "At the end of the day, I was allowed to go on that trade mission as a delegate because of who I was," she said. |
Ms Arcuri said she had never discussed any sponsorship or grants with Mr Johnson, and asked if he had helped with any "sponsorship money", she said: "Categorically no. Do you think I would waste his time talking about this stuff?" | Ms Arcuri said she had never discussed any sponsorship or grants with Mr Johnson, and asked if he had helped with any "sponsorship money", she said: "Categorically no. Do you think I would waste his time talking about this stuff?" |
She also said Mr Johnson had nothing to do with an additional £100,000 grant awarded to her company by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in January. | She also said Mr Johnson had nothing to do with an additional £100,000 grant awarded to her company by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in January. |
And she denied reports he had written her a letter of recommendation to run the taxpayer-funded Tech City organisation, promoting technology companies in east London. | |
'A close bond' | |
Ms Arcuri told Good Morning Britain the pair shared "a love" and "passion" for Shakespeare and literature during their friendship, | |
"Boris is extremely personable. He cares a lot about this country, and he cares a lot about people... he is a guy you want to hang out with." | |
Asked whether she ever loved Mr Johnson, she said: "I've been asked that many times. And I care about him deeply as a friend, and we do share a very close bond, but I wish him well. | |
"I really do want him to focus on making Britain great again." | |
Who is Jennifer Arcuri? | |
Jennifer Arcuri describes herself on Twitter as an entrepreneur, cyber security expert and producer. | |
She began her career as a DJ on Radio Disney, before moving into film - where she wrote, produced and directed a short film that went on to be sold at Cannes Film Festival. | |
Ms Arcuri then brought in her tech skills to create a streaming platform for independent film makers. | |
But it was her founding of The Innotech Network in London that saw her path cross with Boris Johnson. | |
The network hosts events to discuss tech policy, and Mr Johnson was the keynote speaker at the first of those in 2012. | |
Since then, Ms Arcuri has also founded another company called Hacker House, which uses ethical hackers to find tech solutions for businesses. |