Skip to main content
Donate to the 95 years appeal
Labour MP demands Boris Johnson answer corruption allegations
The Prime Minister Boris Johnson

PRIME Minister Boris Johnson is under pressure to explain allegations that he failed to declare potential conflicts of interest, after a newspaper claimed that a friend of his received over £100,000 in public money.

The allegation appeared on the front of the Sunday Times today, but the paper’s other page-one story — about the resignation of a Jeremy Corbyn aide — received far more coverage.

Jon Trickett, Labour’s shadow Cabinet Office minister, said Mr Johnson should provide full disclosure on the corruption allegations.

The Sunday Times claimed that, when London mayor, Mr Johnson gave privileged access to his friend, US model turned technology entrepreneur Jennifer Arcuri.

It is alleged that Ms Arcuri was given £126,000 in public money and taken on three foreign trade missions led by Mr Johnson.

They included a trip to New York, for which she had initially been turned down. After she discussed the matter with Mr Johnson, he overturned the decision.

Mr Johnson and Ms Arcuri also travelled to Tel Aviv in Israel despite her application initially being rejected by the mayor’s promotional agency.

Reacting to the revelations, Mr Trickett said: “Boris Johnson must now give a full account of his actions in response to these grave and most serious allegations of the misuse use of public money in his former role as mayor of London.”

“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.”

Labour leader Mr Corbyn pointed out that, after his interview with Andrew Marr on BBC television this morning, the same programme went on to interview Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab without asking any questions regarding the front page.

Ms Arcuri was quoted by the Sunday Times as saying: “Any grants received by my companies and any trade mission I joined were purely in respect of my role as a legitimate businesswoman.”

She did not comment on the nature of her relationship with Mr Johnson.

Downing Street has also declined to comment.

Mr Trickett’s office said there was a precedent for the Prime Minister resigning if he cannot explain these events, citing Liam Fox standing down as defence secretary in 2011. 

Mr Fox was found to have procured high-level overseas meetings for his friend and adviser Adam Werrity.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
SMILING ASSASSINS: Contra rebels in Nicaragua
Extract / 21 January 2020
21 January 2020
Investigative journalist PHIL MILLER'S new book exposes the activities of Keenie Meenie Services, a powerful and secretive mercenary company which, from Sri Lanka to Nicaragua, has been involved in war crimes around the world.
Captain Dean Sprouting
Britain / 10 October 2019
10 October 2019
US soldiers' 'entirely improper' driving of forklift truck crushed Captain Dean Sprouting
A US airman secures a fuel line on the flightline at Royal A
Britain / 26 September 2019
26 September 2019
Similar stories
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage stands with Sarah Pochin after announcing her as Reform UK's candidate for the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, at the Runcorn Shopping City in Runcorn, Cheshire, March 24, 2025
Britain / 29 April 2025
29 April 2025
Ellen Clifford (right) outside the High Court with her solic
Features / 13 February 2025
13 February 2025
EMMA COTTON explains the significance of a recent win at the High Court for a disability rights campaigner against the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions over a ‘misleading’ and ‘unfair’ consultation on social security cuts 
Former Labour Party leader and now independent MP Jeremy Cor
Britain / 31 January 2025
31 January 2025
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Khalid Abdalla (front
Editorial: / 19 January 2025
19 January 2025