Boris Johnson set deadline to explain secrecy over Jennifer Arcuri inquiry
The London Assembly asks the PM to detail why he has asked for confidentiality over his responses to their investigation.
Thursday 10 October 2019 21:41, UK
Boris Johnson has been set a deadline to explain why he wants his answers kept secret in an investigation into his links with an American model turned technology entrepreneur.
The prime minister is facing conflict of interest allegations following claims Jennifer Arcuri was given more than £100,000 in public money and privileged access to overseas trade missions led by Mr Johnson during his time as London mayor.
He has refused to deny outright that he had an affair with Ms Arcuri, 34, but previously told Sky News "everything was done with complete propriety" when quizzed on the allegations.
Earlier this week, Mr Johnson submitted a response to the London Assembly after it opened an investigation into the pair's links.
They had asked him for details and a timeline of all contact with Ms Arcuri, including social, personal and professional encounters during his period of office as London mayor.
The prime minister was also asked for an explanation of how their alleged personal relationship was disclosed and taken into account in any and all dealings with the Greater London Authority (GLA) and other parts of the GLA family.
The London Assembly, the capital's elected body, subsequently deemed Mr Johnson's responses to be "insufficient" and revealed his request for them to be kept secret.
They have now set a deadline of 5pm on Monday for the prime minister to explain why he has asked for confidentiality.
In a letter to Mr Johnson, Labour's Len Duvall, the chair of the London Assembly's oversight committee, wrote: "Transparency and accountability are at the heart of the London Assembly's operations and I was disappointed to see that your response is marked 'private and confidential' and 'not for publication'.
"The reason for confidentiality is not given and, on the face of it, is unclear to me.
"I would request that you provide reasons for that confidentiality by 5pm on Monday 14 October 2019, so that the GLA oversight committee can consider appropriate handling of the letter."
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Tory sources have previously attacked the GLA's handling of the inquiry as a "politically motivated attack" rather than a "genuine investigation".
They have also accused the GLA of giving "false information" to the media and "leaking private correspondence".
The Sunday Times first reported the allegations about Mr Johnson and Ms Arcuri.
The newspaper has since reported fresh claims that Mr Johnson wrote a letter recommending Ms Arcuri - then a 27-year-old student - for a £100,000 a year job as chief executive of Tech City, which was established to help technology start-ups in the capital.
A Number 10 spokesperson said: "We responded to the GLA well within the deadline. We hope they will follow proper process in this matter."