Boris Johnson has admitted he can’t recall a lunch at which he was accused of groping a woman’s inner thigh – despite insisting her claim was untrue.
As the scandal rocked the Tory party conference, the Prime Minister doubled down on his denial that he grabbed journalist Charlotte Edwardes’ thigh at a boozy lunch 20 years ago.
“All I know is it is not true,” he insisted during a round of broadcast interviews.
But when pressed on whether he remembered having that lunch, he admitted to ITV News: “I don’t to be honest, I have no memory whatever.”
Asked how he could be sure that Ms Edwardes’ claim was not true, when he couldn’t recall the event and she could, he insisted: “It’s not true, for all sorts of reasons”.
The row has overshadowed the Tories’ annual gathering in Manchester with the PM facing a barrage of criticism for his language, ‘affairs’ and groping claims.
(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
Mr Johnson told ITV: “I don’t wish to cast aspersions on the motives of anybody who makes this type of allegation but it is not true and what I want to do is focus on our domestic agenda”.
Earlier the PM claimed he was “coming under shot and shell” because of political opposition to his hardline Brexit strategy.
The shameless Tory politician described Ms Edwardes’ claims as “sad”.
Writing in the Sunday Times, she said he had “enough inner flesh beneath his fingers” to make her “sit suddenly upright.”
Later, when No10 said her allegation was “untrue”, Ms Edwardes had cast doubt on the PM’s memory. She wrote: “If the prime minister doesn’t recollect the incident then clearly I have a better memory than he does.”
Meanwhile, Labour revealed that the PM will be spared a no-confidence vote until after a crunch Brussels summit.
The PM could be toppled if MPs back a motion – and it had been thought a showdown could take place this week.
But Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell confirmed moves were “unlikely” until after the Tory leader returned from a meeting with EU chiefs on October 17-18 where he hopes to strike a new Brexit deal.
He vowed Labour would wait so 21 former Conservative MPs could see whether the PM succeeds in forging a fresh pact so the UK can leave on October 31.
Or, if he fails, whether he will obey a law forcing him to delay Brexit.
Talks between Opposition whips this week would try to generate “absolute clarity” about what happens if a no-confidence vote succeeds, he added.
But Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson remains unlikely to fall in behind Jeremy Corbyn as a caretaker leader.
Her spokesman said: “Jo is a great believer in the power of mathematics.
“Jeremy Corbyn does not have the numbers and needs to make clear who he would support if we need an emergency Government.”
Mr Johnson will know within days whether he can secure a Brexit deal with the European Union.
The PM’s formal plans are due to be submitted to Brussels later this week and Mr Johnson said it would soon become apparent if there is “no way of getting it over the line”.
He urged EU leaders to work with him as the “rubber hits the road” on efforts to strike a deal ahead of October 31.
But his plans were dealt an early blow after Dublin rejected an idea for customs posts along both sides of the Irish border – but between 5 to 10 miles back – to replace the backstop.
Reports today suggested the Prime Minister is still trying to force a no-deal Brexit if necessary on October 31, despite a law compelling him to delay the date by three months.
Grilled today, Mr Johnson was asked about fuel shortages and price rises in no-deal – but was unable to say how much a litre of petrol actually costs.
He told ITV News: “I’m not here to answer general knowledge or pub quiz questions.”
