Boris Johnson hands documents to London Assembly relating to his relationship with ‘tech friend’ Jennifer Arcuri – amid row over her receiving £100,000 in public cash
- The PM reportedly wrote a letter recommending the former model for a job
- Mr Johnson told to provide details of his relationship to the London Assembly
- Leaked emails showed Mr Johnson was listed as a reference in her application
- He submitted details after the 6pm deadline this evening, Whitehall sources said
Boris Johnson has submitted a response to the London Assembly after it demanded more information about his relationship Jennifer Arcuri.
The assembly’s oversight committee launched an investigation into Mr Johnson’s links with the American model turned tech entrepreneur when he was London mayor from amid an ongoing row over her receiving £100,000 in public cash.
Assembly officials had given the Prime Minister 14 days to answer its questions over allegations the businesswoman received favourable treatment while he was London mayor.
Boris Johnson has submitted a response to the London Assembly after it demanded more information about his relationship Jennifer Arcuri
But that deadline passed without a response from Mr Johnson at 6pm on Tuesday, and the assembly insisted it would pursue an investigation.
However, a Tory source said that City Hall had received a response a little under an hour after the deadline had passed.
The PM has been facing repeated calls for clarity over allegations that Ms Arcuri was given public funding and privileged access to three foreign trade missions while Mr Johnson was mayor.
Chairman of the London Assembly oversight committee Len Duvall said the lack of response by the deadline was ‘very disappointing’.
But that deadline passed without a response from Mr Johnson at 6pm on Tuesday, and the assembly insisted it would pursue an investigation. However, a Tory source said that City Hall had received a response a little under an hour after the deadline had passed
‘Missing the deadline of a polite request to fully co-operate is unhelpful and this already serious situation has now become grave,’ the Labour assembly member said, before the source said the information had been sent.
‘The allegations of potential misuse of taxpayers’ money are no laughing matter. We will be taking this further.’
A Tory source confirmed Mr Johnson had not responded by the deadline, but went on to say they had responded ‘just before 7pm’.
The source said it was missed because ‘it was an invented City Hall deadline that they have never said to us’, and criticised London Assembly ‘grandstanding’ and Mr Duvall for ‘playing politics’.
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