Boris Johnson faces calls to “urgently reassure” the public that Jennifer Arcuri did not receive special treatment in the awarding of public money as a result of their affair.
Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said it was vital he shows that he acted with “complete probity” in dealings with the US tech entrepreneur when he was Mayor of London.
In a letter to the PM, Ms Rayner links the favours Boris reportedly did for his lover to wider claims of Tory cronyism.
She wrote: “People deserve to know taxpayers’ money is spent with honesty and integrity on the basis of what you know, not who you know.”
Mr Johnson is understood to be reluctant to appear in front of a London Assembly committee which is looking into his affair with Ms Arcuri, from 2012 to 2016, who confirmed it in the Sunday Mirror.
His press secretary Allegra Stratton said he would “engage” with the oversight committee but did not confirm he would give evidence if asked.
She also claimed he acted with “honesty and integrity” after he was accused of having sex with Ms Arcuri on his family sofa.
Ms Rayner raised fears about Tory “cronyism” after at least £2billion of Government contracts were awarded to party donors and “friends” during the pandemic.
She urged Mr Johnson to publish details of companies that had been successful through a “VIP” lane.
And she said there were “very serious questions” to answer about the conduct of David Cameron.
Labour is demanding an inquiry after reports the former Tory PM granted access to Whitehall departments for scandal-hit banker Lex Greensill.
In her letter, Ms Rayner said there was “significant and justified” public concern over whether firms with links to the Tory party had received special treatment.
Ms Arcuri was given £126,000 in public money, £10,000 of it from a body overseen by the mayor, and privileged access to three overseas trade missions led by Mr Johnson.
She maintains she was invited on the trips in her own right.
Recap our Facebook live video as Investigations Editor Geraldine McKelvie and politics editor Pippa Crerar discussed our bombshell exclusive
The Independent Office for Police Conduct concluded last year there was no evidence Mr Johnson committed misconduct in public office, a criminal offence.
But the watchdog said it would have been “wise” for him to have declared the affair and his failure to do so may have breached the Nolan Principles for Public Life.
Ms Rayner also challenged Mr Johnson on claims by No10 that the IOPC found the allegations to be “untrue and unfounded” – when that phrase is not in the report.
The Greater London Authority is now set to resume its inquiry into whether Mr Johnson behaved with “honesty and integrity” and if there was any preferential treatment given to Ms Arcuri.
The probe was paused while the IOPC investigated and then delayed by the pandemic.
Labour wants No10 to publish details of talks that led to Tory-linked firms being fast-tracked to plum pandemic deals including in PPE.
Analysis last month found the value of contracts awarded to firms with connections to the Tories hit almost £2bn.
The National Audit Office found those referred this way, including pals of MPs, were 10 times more likely to win deals.
Campaigners have taken legal action against the Cabinet Office over the decision to pay more than £500,000 to research firm Public First, run by friends of Dominic Cummings and Michael Gove. A ruling is set to be made.
Outsourcing giant Serco also got contracts, including a £108m deal to help run Test and Trace.
Its chief executive Rupert Soames is the brother of former Tory MP Sir Nicholas.
Health Minister Edward Argar was also a senior executive there until 2015.
Randox Laboratories Ltd received a number of contracts for Covid-19 testing, including two for £346.5m and £133m.
Tory MP Owen Paterson is a paid adviser but Randox denied he was involved in securing the contracts.
Serco said it was “awarded the vast majority of work… through competition”.
Angela Rayner's letter to Boris Johnson
Dear Prime Minister,
I am writing to you regarding comments made by your Press Secretary and official spokesperson yesterday, stating that the Independent Office for Police Conduct had found that claims regarding a potential breach of the rules in handling public money and access to Jennifer Arcuri were “untrue and unfounded”.
The IOPC’s report does not include the phrase “untrue and unfounded”.
Acting with integrity and honesty, as your Press Secretary claims you have always done in this matter, would mean that you should be happy to correct the record.
Following the handing of £2billion of taxpayers’ money in Government contracts to donors and friends of the Conservative Party during the coronavirus pandemic, there is significant and justified public concern regarding cronyism and special treatment for people who have close relationships with and links to the Conservative Party and Ministers when it comes to public money, preferential treatment and access.
With each passing week there are more revelations about Conservative Party cronyism and more allegations of the misuse of taxpayers’ money come to light, with recent events raising very serious questions about the conduct of former Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron and the special access granted to ministers and Whitehall departments for favoured business figures.
It is in this context that the Greater London Authority investigation into whether any preferential treatment or access was given to Jennifer Arcuri during your time as Mayor of London takes on a renewed importance. As I am sure you would you agree, it is vital to ensure complete probity in all matters relating to the distribution of taxpayers’ money, and I would urge you to take urgent steps to assure the British people that there was no special or preferential treatment on your part in the awarding of public grants or preferential access to Jennifer Arcuri.
The British people deserve to know that taxpayers’ money is spent with honesty and integrity on the basis of what you know, not who you know. So I would also urge you again to publish the details of companies which have been awarded Government contracts through referral to a special “high priority”and “VIP” lane, thanks to existing relationships with, or tips from, Conservative Ministers and Members of Parliament.
Angela Rayner MP
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