• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Meet the Team
  • Contact us
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
  • JOBS
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
  • JOBS
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home Politics

Johnson’s team accused of ‘political smear’ over holiday row putting safety at risk

Mr Blackford condemned the “violation” of Mr Johnson’s privacy but added a “senior Conservative source in Downing Street” was reported to have said the “finger of blame for all this getting out is being pointed at the SNP, particularly Ian Blackford who is local”.

Joe Mellor by Joe Mellor
2020-09-02 14:21
in Politics
Credit;PA

Credit;PA

FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

Boris Johnson’s office has been accused of smearing SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford and putting his family’s safety at risk.

The row centres on the Prime Minister’s summer holiday, which had to be cut short after pictures of the cottage he was staying in – situated in Mr Blackford’s Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency – were published.

Mr Blackford condemned the “violation” of Mr Johnson’s privacy but added a “senior Conservative source in Downing Street” was reported to have said the “finger of blame for all this getting out is being pointed at the SNP, particularly Ian Blackford who is local”.

Raising a point of order in the Commons, Mr Blackford said: “This allegation and briefing was entirely and deliberately false, it was a targeted political smear from the Prime Minister’s Office.

Daily Mail

“The photographer who provided the material for the original Daily Mail front page later confirmed that I was not the source in revealing the Prime Minister’s location – a location, I might add, I was not even aware of.

“However, by this point the damage was done. This matter has not only been the worst kind of political smear, the false allegation has equally resulted in security implications for myself and my family given its serious and personal nature.”

Boris Johnson
Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during Prime Minister’s Questions (House of Commons/PA)

Mr Blackford said threats against him were made on social media, adding: “It’s a very serious situation when the apparatus of UK Government can be deployed in this way, manufacturing false briefings in order to attack an opposition politician.”

RelatedPosts

Nicola Sturgeon calls for urgent meeting with PM over cost-of-living crisis

13,000 migrants have crossed Channel since Rwanda plan announced, figures show

No 10 ‘will assist’ inquiry into whether Boris Johnson lied to MPs

Sunak pledges new ‘Brexit delivery unit’ with mega cringe video

Mr Johnson, his fiancee Carrie Symonds and their baby son Wilfred – along with dog Dilyn – were staying in a remote house on the north-west coast.

Pictures published in the Daily Mail showed a canvas bell tent erected near the cottage, which was said to boast “spectacular views” towards the islands of Raasay, Rona and Skye.

Staycation

Mr Johnson said he had a “wonderful” staycation in Mr Blackford’s constituency, adding to the SNP MP: “I’m very happy to accept the assurances that he gives.

“However, I just draw his attention… to a tweet by a chap called Torcuil Crichton on August 17 saying: ‘Ferocious midge count in Wester Ross tonight, I hear. Must be bad if you’re fair-skinned and camping’ to which an account, which purports to be (Mr Blackford) but I’m sure it isn’t because of what he’s just said, says: ‘I wonder if an education at Eton stands you in good stead for these blighters’.

“Anyway, I’m happy to accept his assurances and protestations and I think we should leave it at that.”

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle expressed concerns about the security implications for both Mr Johnson and Mr Blackford, adding to MPs: “Let’s be very, very careful and let’s learn from this.”

Related – The Right turns to nihilism – and the media turns to sh*t

Since you are here

Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.

Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.

Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.

If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.

To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.

The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.

The shop can be found here.

You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending on TLE

  • All
  • trending
Abdollah

‘Rescue us’: Afghan teacher begs UK to help him escape Taliban

CHOMSKY: “If Corbyn had been elected, Britain would be pursuing a much more sane course”

What If We Got Rid Of Prisons?

More from TLE

Watch – Teenager hoping to become first professional footballer with cystic fibrosis attending Manchester City training camp

Police mock drunk driver who crashed into car park while 4.5 times legal limit

‘Oh Colin’ trends on Twitter as Brexiteer bemoans immigration queues

The countries Boris is looking to woo are among the most closed to trade in the world

Rapturous crowds greet Jeremy Corbyn at BBCQT as the Labour leader clarifies Brexit stance

Virgin Care Takes Over Sheppey and Sittingbourne Hospitals

Javid will wear mask for Budget – but won’t ask Tory MPs to follow suit

Snake found in McDonald’s branch in Middlesbrough

Coronavirus ‘currently eliminated’ in New Zealand

Video – Police investigation after activists film fox being torn to pieces by pack of dogs

JOBS

FIND MORE JOBS

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.