Boris Johnson has publicly denied the claim that he squeezed journalist Charlotte Edwardes’ thigh.
Journalist Charlotte Edwardes said the Prime Minister put his hand “high” up her leg.
Writing in the Sunday Times, she said he had “enough inner flesh beneath his fingers” to make her “sit suddenly upright.”
Asked if he had done it, he told reporters during a visit to a business in Manchester: “No, and I think what the public want to hear is about what we are doing to level up and unite the country.”
Asked if she had made it up he said: “I’m just saying what I’ve said. What the public want to hear is what we are doing for them and for the country and the investment in ways of uniting the country.”
It follows a rare on the record denial from Downing Street last night when a spokesman said: “This allegation is untrue”.
Ms Edwardes hit back after the denial, saying: “If the prime minister doesn’t recollect the incident then clearly I have a better memory than he does.”
Earlier, Ms Edwardes also said she recounted the tale to a second guest at the same lunch, who said: “Oh God, he did exactly the same to me.”
The No10 spokesman offered no comment on the claims about the second woman at the same lunch.
The alleged incident took place at the offices of the Spectator magazine just after he took over as editor in 1999.
Ms Edwardes wrote: “I’m seated on Johnson’s right; on his left is a young woman I know.
(Image: Getty Images)
“More wine is poured; more wine is drunk. Under the table I feel Johnson’s hand on my thigh. He gives it a squeeze. His hand is high up my leg and he has enough inner flesh beneath his fingers to make me sit suddenly upright.”
She also said he referred to Marina Wheeler as his “current wife.”
Mr Johnson had married Ms Wheeler six years earlier, in 1993.
In 2017 Defence Secretary Michael Fallon lost his frontbench job over allegations of his behaviour which emerged during the ‘pestminster’ scandal.
Mr Fallon resigned after admitting he had “overstepped the mark” followinfg claims he had touched the knee of broadcaster Julia Hartley-Brewer during dinner at Tory party conference in 2002.
Labour’s Shadow Women and Equalities minister Dawn Butler said: “This is a shocking, but sadly all too familiar, story.
“What is it about powerful men feeling entitled to harass women?
” Boris Johnson has serious questions to answer.”
