Boris Johnson dodged questions about funding awarded to his “friend” – 7 cutting responses
American tech entrepreneur, Jennifer Arcuri, is at the centre of an incident calling into question Boris Johnson’s fitness for office – yes, another one. Reports suggest she was given funding, and access to official trips, for which she wasn’t eligible; the Guardian was told that Johnson intervened to get Arcuri’s company the grant after it had already been declined, amidst rumours that the pair may have been in a relationship at the time.
Boris Johnson repeatedly declines to comment on claims he 'awarded public funds to friend' https://t.co/2WnsxTTirJ
— The Guardian (@guardian) September 23, 2019
Twitter is less surprised than wearied by these developments, and wasn’t backward at coming forward with one or two opinions – or seven.
1.
Has he resigned yet? https://t.co/m4uhPKQdjd
— Stephen Mangan (@StephenMangan) September 23, 2019
2.
Oh for goodness sake can’t a married, middle aged man, in a powerful job with an indeterminate number of children,have a much younger woman as a best friend, who he visits in her flat & accompanies him on overseas trips funded by the tax payer, anymore? https://t.co/GwYZzwGhEJ
— Nicky Clark (@MrsNickyClark) September 22, 2019
3.
“£126,000 in public money”.
Anyone advocating “drain the swamp” need look no further than our Prime Minister.
…and we used to laugh at Italy for having Berlusconi as their PM.
— Mike Galsworthy (@mikegalsworthy) September 22, 2019
4.
"So, what first attracted you to a man in high political office, prepared to ignore the advice of his officials and take you on three trade missions, and who may in some way have been able to help you access £126,000 of taxpayers' money?"https://t.co/m500Tu6fFO
— Keith Burge (@carryonkeith) September 23, 2019
5.
Bunging public funds to mistresses is something Berlusconi used to do. We're basically becoming Italy but with worse food https://t.co/XYUOlSaLfr
— Pawel Swidlicki (@pswidlicki) September 23, 2019
6.
The reticence to say Jennifer Arcuri was Boris Johnson's mistress seems odd, given that there's no way he's going to sue over it.
— David Whitley (@mrdavidwhitley) September 23, 2019
7.
Also innovative ways to funnel public money to models we like the look of. https://t.co/p73di2hRMG
— barney farmer (@barneyfarmer) September 23, 2019
Journalist Barney Ronay summed up the situation in three depressing points.
1. Looks really, really terrible ✅
2. Will just get away with it ✅
3. Somehow more popular afterwards ✅✅ https://t.co/rLz5WySBYu— Barney Ronay (@barneyronay) September 23, 2019
Source: Guardian Image: Eugene Metreveli via The Times, Twitter, screengrab
