A senior minister has suggested there was a hint of sexism in allegations surrounding the influence of the Prime Minister’s wife.
Home Office Minister Victoria Atkins suggested male spouses of former female Prime Ministers did not get the same level of stick as Carrie Johnson.
It comes after the PM’s former chief aide Dominic Cummings accused Mrs Johnson of wanting to “pull the strings” and appoint “complete clowns” to key roles.
Ms Atkins told Sky News she felt “uncomfortable” by suggestions Mrs Johnson was a Lady Macbeth-type figure and insisted political appointments are a matter “solely” for the Prime Minister.
She referred to the husband of former PM Theresa May, saying: “I wonder if Mr May got asked these questions.”
Ms Atkins added: “I think it’s fair to say that people will judge for themselves if there has been a difference in the treatment between the husbands of prime ministers as opposed to the wives of prime ministers.”
