Jennifer Arcuri: Boris Johnson repeatedly refuses to deny affair with ex-model awarded public funds and access

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Mr Johnson was a regular visitor to Ms Arcuri's flat in Shoreditch, East London, according to a report in The Sunday Times, and attended numerous events promoting her fledgling company. But, when asked six times about the explosive allegations by reporters on his plane to New York, the prime minister gave the same reply: “I’m here to talk about what we are doing at the UN.” The prime minister refused to say whether he denied any conflict of interest, dodged the issue of whether an inquiry was needed to clear up the matter and declined to say if he and Ms Arcuri had been lovers. Shadow cabinet minister Jon Trickett said: "With Boris Johnson refusing to answer questions about these allegations of serious conflicts of interest, abuse of power and misuse of public funds, the cabinet secretary should launch an investigation. Ms Arcuri was also given preferential treatment when it came to joining overseas trade missions led by Mr Johnson, the report said.