JEREMY Corbyn on Sunday night accused Boris Johnson of an “abuse of power” in an extraordinary attack over allegations linking him to a former American model.
The Labour leader said the PM had to answer claims that as Mayor of London he failed declare a series of potential conflicts of interest over a close friendship with Jennifer Arcuri.
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And in an astonishing claim, he accused the BBC of being part of a ‘cover up’ by failing to ask Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab about the allegations on air yesterday.
In a social media video the Labour leader said: “This is how the Establishment works.
“It closes ranks, and puts privilege first.”
The Sunday Times claimed Ms Arcuri was given £126,000 of public money and privileged access to three official trade missions led by Mr Johnson when he was Mayor.
In 2013, Ms Arcuri’s fledging business received £10,000 in sponsorship cash from an organisation that Mr Johnson was responsible for as London Mayor.
Sources added Mr Johnson was a regular visitor to the model turned technology entrepreneur’s flat in east London at the time.
Ms Arcuri told The Sunday Times: “Any grants…were purely in respect of my role as a legitimate businesswoman.”
A spokesman for No10 refused to comment on Sunday.
But John Trickett, Shadow Cabinet Office Minister, demanded Boris give a “full account of his actions” – calling the allegations “grave and serious”.
Promoter of hacks
JENNIFER Arcuri has a background as a tech entrepreneur and now promotes “ethical hacking”.
Social media snaps show her with senior Tories including Michael Gove and Justine Greening.
The married ex-model, who now lives in California, founded a company called Innotech in 2012.
According to her website, it intends to “bridge the gap between legislation and innovative technology”.
Another venture, Hacker House, is said to employ “renowned ethical hackers” to help spot cyber attacks.
He stormed: “The public has a right to know how and why these funds were used for the benefit of a close personal friend without on the face of it legitimate reason.
“This cannot be swept under the carpet. It is a matter of the integrity of the man now leading our country, who appears to believe he can get away with anything.”
Boris Johnson was on Sunday night flying to New York to attend a UN Climate Action Summit. His girlfriend Carrie Symonds was expected to be by his side on Monday at their first foreign trip together since he became PM.
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