PM hit with groping allegations as party conference starts

United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson has denied claims he inappropriately touched a British journalist.

Charlotte Edwardes claimed in her column in The Sunday Times that, back in 1999, Johnson groped her thigh and the thigh of another woman during a private lunch at the London offices of The Spectator magazine. The alleged incident was said to have happened shortly after Johnson took over as editor of the publication.

The claim follows hot on the heels of recent reports that Johnson had a relationship with United States tech entrepreneur Jennifer Arcuri, whose company subsequently received a sizable public grant and coveted access to foreign trade missions.

The allegations threatened to overshadow the Conservative Party conference, which began on Sunday and that will end on Wednesday with Johnson's keynote speech.

A Downing Street spokesperson responded to the latest claim by saying: "The allegation is untrue."

The Guardian newspaper said it understands the prime minister is furious about the allegation. It said Downing Street insiders have privately described the claim as "bollocks" and "nonsense".

Chancellor Sajid Javid said on Sky News: "I absolutely trust the prime minister and his word … The prime minister himself has said that allegation is completely untrue."

Edwardes followed up her written allegation with a tweet in which she said: "If the prime minister doesn't recollect the incident then clearly I have a better memory than he does."

And Matt Hancock, the UK's health secretary, described Edwardes as a reliable witness on Channel 4 News, saying: "I know her and I know her to be trustworthy."

Amber Rudd, who was minister for women and equalities until she resigned on Sept 7 in protest at Johnson's Brexit policy, later tweeted: "I agree with Matt Hancock."

Conservative Party MP Justine Greening, who served as secretary of state for education from 2016 to 2018, said on BBC Radio 4's Today program: "I can't comment on those accusations, but they are deeply concerning, and, in a sense, they go to the heart of this question about character and integrity of people in public life and what standards the electorate have a right to expect."

Johnson's private life has been in the spotlight for several months. In June, the Guardian revealed police had been called to a loud altercation at the London apartment he shared with his partner, Carrie Symonds.

Several colleagues have leapt to Johnson's defense, including former defense secretary Penny Mordaunt, who said Johnson "has the style of Frank Spencer in a china shop but he is a decent person and I think he cares a great deal about women and girls".

Opposition Labour Party member of Parliament Dawn Butler, who is the shadow women and equalities secretary, has written to the Cabinet secretary and the chairman of the Conservative Party, urging an "urgent and thorough" investigation into the allegations.

And Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson told the Guardian: "Boris Johnson probably doesn't even remember this incident, because, to men like him, it won't even register as sexual harassment and an abuse of power."