Boris Johnson took a swipe at David Cameron and the ‘pig gate’ furore after claiming photographs allegedly held by Lord Ashcroft of a "riotous" night in Israel relate to events which are "entirely kosher”.
Lord Ashcroft published an unauthorised autobiography of David Cameron, Call Me Dave, which included a number of unflattering allegations. In one particularly controversial extract, he repeated a claim that the Prime Minister had placed his genitals into the mouth of a dead pig during an “outrageous” initiation ceremony for the Piers Gaveston Society.
The London mayor said Lord Ashcroft had approached him in recent weeks and, in his "most terrifying whisper”, claimed he had photos of Johnson during a night out at a restaurant in Tel Aviv.
Johnson recalled “misbehaving”, dancing on tables and singing karaoke during the night in question - but told an audience of 300 people that he was unsure of any animals involved.
He said: ”And I thought - this is all absolutely true - I thought it had all been forgotten until quite recently when my friend Lord Ashcroft ... came up to me and said in his most terrifying whisper: 'I know you enjoyed yourself in that restaurant in Tel Aviv - I have the photos.'
"That's what he said and I have no idea what photos he was talking about, whether any animals were involved at all but I can say whatever took place that evening was entirely kosher.”
Downing Street said Mr Cameron will not “dignify” allegations at the time they were serialised in the Daily Mail. The PM eventually addressed the book in September and said: “Everyone can see why the book was written and everyone can see straight through it. As for the specific issue raised, a very specific denial was made a week ago and I’ve nothing to add to that.”
Additional reporting by the Press Association
