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WORLD NEWS Monday 30 SepteMber 2019
U.K.'s Johnson denies any wrongdoing in ties with U.S. tech exec

By DANICA KIRKA ber firm in East London af-
Associated Press ter moving to the capital
LONDON (AP) — British seven years ago.
Prime Minister Boris John- Yet even as the British lead-
son denied wrongdoing er visited North Manchester
Sunday over his links to an General Hospital on Sun-
American businesswoman day to talk about his gov-
who allegedly received ernment's plans to build 40
money and favorable hospitals, his efforts failed
treatment because of their to change the subject.
friendship during his time as "Let's be absolutely clear, I
mayor of London. am very, very proud of ev-
Asked during a BBC inter- erything that we did and
view about his ties to tech certainly everything that I
entrepreneur and model did as mayor of London," he
Jennifer Arcuri, Johnson said, adding that the cur-
sought to suggest that po- rent London mayor, Sadiq
litical motivations were Khan of the Labour Party,
behind the decision Friday "could possibly spend more
by the Greater London Au- time investing in police of-
thority to refer a conduct ficers than he is investing in
matter to a police watch- press officers and peddling
dog agency. this kind of stuff."
The matter arose from a The independent office,
Sunday Times report saying which oversees police Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson looks on during a visit to North Manchester General Hospital
before the Conservative Conference, in Manchester, England, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019.
Arcuri was given 126,000 complaints in England, was Associated Press
pounds in public money asked to consider if there
and privileged access to were grounds to investi-
trade missions to the Unit- gate Johnson for miscon-
ed States, Israel and Asia duct in public office. The
that Johnson led as mayor, authority said Friday it had
even though her fledgling a "statutory duty" to record
business had not yet met the matter because John-
eligibility requirements for son served as police com-
such trips. missioner during his 2008-
"Everything was done in ac- 2016 tenure as London's
cordance with the code ... mayor.
and everything was done The probe is the latest sign
with full propriety," Johnson of animosity that has con-
said Sunday. When pressed sumed British politics since
again by BBC journalist An- the country narrowly voted
drew Marr, Johnson add- in 2016 to leave the Europe-
ed: "There was no interest an Union. Three years later,
to declare." Britain and its politicians re-
The scandal worsened Sun- main bitterly divided over
day as Johnson's Conser- how, or even whether, to
vative Party was opening its leave the 28-nation bloc.
annual party conference in Johnson took power two
Manchester following a tu- months ago with a "do-or-
multuous week for a leader die" promise that Britain will
who has only been in the leave the EU on the sched-
job since July. uled date of Oct. 31 —
In just the last few days, the even if there's no divorce
U.K. Supreme Court de- deal outlining Britain's com-
clared Johnson's attempt mercial relations with the
to suspend Parliament ille- other 27 EU nations. His foes
gal and he cut short a trip in Parliament are deter-
to the United States, racing mined to avoid a no-deal
home to face the House of exit, which economists
Commons, where lawmak- say would plunge Britain
ers greeted him with cries into recession. In unusually
of "Resign!" He then lost a heated debate Wednes-
vote on a normally routine day, Johnson referred to
matter — a request to ad- an opposition law ordering
journ for a week so that a Brexit delay as the "Sur-
Conservatives could at- render Act" and said post-
tend their conference. poning the country's de-
Complicating things fur- parture would "betray" the
ther, questions were raised people. He also brushed off
about the 55-year-old concerns that his forceful
Johnson's links to Arcuri, language might endanger
now 34, who set up a cy- legislators as "humbug."q