Simon Case admitted that he had an “informal conversation” with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s charity about potential “opportunities” for Boris Johnson’s wife, Carrie.
The cabinet secretary revealed that in 2020 he was invited by an already former member of the team at number 10 to ask the Royal Foundation for a position in the Earthshot Award for the then fiancé of Mr. Johnson.
But Mr Case – who has close ties to the Duke of Cambridge as his former personal secretary – insisted he had not approved her for any paid work.
He made the confessions in response to a letter from Labor deputy Angela Raynor asking him to explain his involvement in Mr Johnson’s alleged efforts to provide top jobs for Ms Johnson – and in particular whether turned to the Royal Foundation.
In response, Mr Case insisted that there had been no “misconduct”, saying: “I did not recommend Ms Johnson for any role.
“In the fall of 2020, a former team member number 10 asked about opportunities for Ms. Johnson with environmental charities.
“I was happy to have an informal conversation with someone involved in the Earthshot Award about the roles available, as I would do for anyone with relevant experience who wants to get involved in charity.
Cabinet Secretary Simon Case and Boris Johnson
(PA)
This comes after the Prime Minister did not deny allegations that he spoke with his aides about his wife’s environmental roles in 2020, either for the Cop26 summit or with royalty.
This was followed by reports that when Mr Johnson was Foreign Secretary in 2018, he tried to hire Ms Johnson – who was then known by her maiden name Simonds – as his Chief of Staff for £ 100,000 a year, while he was still married to his second wife. Marina Wheeler.
In her letter to Mr. Case, Ms. Raynor said potential conflicts of interest raise “serious issues of sloppiness and corruption” on Downing Street.
She wrote: “There are now serious questions that the prime minister must answer about the potential inadequacy and conflict of interest in his lobbying for a high-paying, tax-funded job for his 2018 partner, Carrie Johnson.
“Reports indicate that while he was foreign minister, Mr. Johnson tried to appoint Ms. Johnson to work in the foreign ministry in 2018, as well as other roles, including in a royal charity.
Ms. Raynor continued: “It is obviously inappropriate for the prime minister to be a judge and jury in his own case, so please confirm that this issue will be subject to independent scrutiny and will be fully investigated.
She told Mr Case that she had been writing to him “in the absence of an independent ministerial adviser” following the resignation of Mr Johnson’s independent ethics adviser, Lord Hyde, last week.
Ms Raynor said she was concerned about the “obvious loophole in the standards system” left by his resignation.
She also wrote separately to Lord Evans, chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, urging him to “initiate an independent inquiry into the matter.”
Downing Street said Mr Johnson had never recommended Ms Johnson for a government role, but stopped denying that he had considered or discussed the move.
A spokesman for the prime minister said this week: “The prime minister has never recommended Ms. Johnson for a state role or as part of the Earthshot Award.
“Besides, I would not enter into any conversations that the prime minister may or may not have had in private.
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