Downing Street forced to deny Italian newspaper’s claims Boris Johnson enjoyed jaunt to Perugia
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Italian airport claims that Boris Johnson enjoyed secret jaunt to Perugia LAST WEEKEND as Brexit and coronavirus gripped the UK – but Downing Street deny it
- Perugia airport put out press release stating PM had travelled through recently
- One source told Italian paper La Repubblica that Mr Johnson arrived Sept. 11
- Number 10 told the paper: ‘This claim is wrong’
- Mr Johnson has reportedly visited his friend Evgeny Lebedev in Perugia before
- If you have any information about the PM’s whereabouts last weekend, email [email protected]
Downing Street has denied an Italian newspaper’s claim that Boris Johnson enjoyed a secret jaunt to Perugia last weekend as Brexit and coronavirus gripped the UK.
La Repubblica cites an official statement from the Umbrian airport dated September 17 which said that Mr Johnson travelled through ‘in the last few days.’
A source from San Francesco d’Assisi airport told the newspaper that the Prime Minister landed on Friday, September 11 at 2pm.
Number 10 told the Italian daily: ‘This claim is wrong.’
Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a service to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain at Westminster Abbey on Sunday
Lebedev, 41, who owns the Evening Standard newspaper and is frequently seen mixing in the upper echelons of the celebrity social scene, owns the breathtaking Castello di Santa Eurasia
On that Friday, Mr Johnson was faced with MPs preparing to rebel on his international law-breaking Brexit legislation and rising numbers of coronavirus infections across the UK.
The PM and fiancee Carrie Symonds also reportedly baptised son Wilfred that weekend, it was claimed last week.
Mr Johnson has reportedly travelled to the airport before to visit his friend Evgeny Lebedev, owner of the Evening Standard, at his medieval castle.
Russian-born Mr Lebedev, whose father is a former KGB operative, is known for hosting lavish parties for celebrity guests at the Castello di Santa Eurasia.
According to one report Mr Johnson worked from Downing Street on the day in question and took part in a Zoom call with 256 Tory MPs on Brexit.
Mr Johnson had tried to give a patriotic rallying cry to encourage his colleagues to back his controversial plans for the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.
One source said that Mr Johnson’s connection had cut out during the call and when he came back on he joked that he should probably invest in super-fast internet, Politics Home reported.
Russian-born Mr Lebedev, whose father is a former KGB operative, is known for hosting lavish parties for his celebrity friends at the Castello di Santa Eurasia
Last year it was reported that Mr Johnson, during his time as Foreign Secretary, had been spotted at Perugia’s airport looking dishevelled ‘in last night’s clothes.’
A fellow passenger told The Guardian that Mr Johnson appeared to be stumbling around and at one point looked as if he might vomit.
There was silence from Mr Johnson’s communications staff when those reports emerged last year.
Last month, Mr Johnson nominated Mr Lebedev for a life peerage for his services to the media industry and his philanthropic work.
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