The allegations were briefly published in the Times on Saturday, but were removed from later editions of the newspaper following the intervention of No. 10, who categorically denied that the Prime Minister had ever proposed the appointment. On Tuesday, the Daily Mirror reported that Mrs Johnson had also been discussed on Downing Street for a role at the Royal Institution, but that no approach had ever been taken. But the Telegraph understands that Mr Case was in fact instructed to contact the charity, which is run by his former bosses, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The civil servant reportedly asked the Foundation if Ms. Johnson would be suitable for the role and if she could wait to be paid. Downing Street on Tuesday night denied that the Prime Minister himself had instructed Case to reach out to the charity, but did not dispute that he had been involved in discussions about it or that Case had done so. A spokesman said: “The Prime Minister has never nominated Mrs Johnson for a government role or as part of the Earthshot Award.”
“No jobs offered”
A source familiar with the discussions said that Mr Case was “given a chance to see if there was room for improvement” but was given “a quiet rebuke to the idea of working closely with the royals” and the idea was “pressed on the long grass”. ». A second source added: “The prime minister may have suggested it, but she was certainly not offered anything. No jobs were offered. “ At the time, Ms. Johnson had already begun discussions with the Aspinall Foundation, an animal welfare charity she joined months later, in February 2021, before their wedding in May. Ms Johnson’s spokeswoman denied the allegations in a statement issued Friday stating “Similar, baseless allegations concerning her husband have been made more than once. “The prime minister was wondering if there was anything she could do, but I do not think she knew anything about it,” said a third source familiar with the discussions.
Procedural point in the Commons
Allegations of Mr Johnson’s involvement in finding work for his wife have already been debated in parliament, with a Liberal Democrat lawmaker putting the Times’ original story into a public debate on Monday. Lord Gide, Johnson’s recently departed ethics adviser, told the Telegraph that the allegations were “ripe” for an investigation by his unnamed successor. On Tuesday, Michael Ellis, the government’s general payer, rejected Labor calls for a new councilor to be ousted if Downing Street does not elect one within two months. “We will act quickly to review the regulations in place to support the ministerial code and ensure high ministerial standards,” he said.
