Abuse of power, lies, luxury tastes: what exactly do we blame "Carrie-Antoinette", the wife of Boris Johnson?

“A web of lies”: it is in these terms that Carrie Johnson defended herself on February 13, through a spokesperson in the columns of the

.

The wife of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom refers to the scathing biography dedicated to her, written by billionaire and patron of the Conservative Party Michael Ashcroft, dubbed

to be published on next March 29.

The businessman and donor of the said party is not at his first attempt.

We owe him in particular the biography, in charge, of the former Prime Minister David Cameron,

.

This time, he attacks the first lady, painting an unflattering portrait of her, between jealousy, manipulation, nepotism and greed.

Through the pages, passages of which are serialized in the

since February 5, Michael Ashcroft charges the 33-year-old young woman with having “a bad influence” on her husband and accuses him of being the instigator of a series of scandals having weakened him lately.

According to him, Carrie Johnson would even use her position to influence certain political decisions from 10 Downing Street.

Accusations that feed the image of a formidable woman working behind the scenes to govern the country.

Read alsoCarrie Symonds, the influential and formidable wife of Boris Johnson

Identity theft

Among the accusations in the book

Michael Ashcroft argues that on several occasions, the wife of the former mayor of London and ex-foreign minister would have used its status to short-circuit the strategy of the Conservative Party, of which Boris Johnson is the head, in particular during the leadership race in 2019. The one that is compared to "Lady Macbeth", in reference to the character of Shakespeare, would have in particular used her husband's telephone, thus posing as him in order to give instructions to his collaborators.

According to Michael Ashcroft, some assistants would have tried to put the wife on the sidelines, not without some stratagems.

For example, by asking taxi drivers to extend her trips, so that she cannot arrive on time at events.

The book, which depicts her as greedy and manipulative, thus intends to report on the "toxic" relationship between the two spouses, and the psychological hold that the young woman exerts on her husband, 26 years of her husband. elder.

Michael Ashcroft reports comments that Boris Johnson would have made to several of his employees: “Don't do anything that could cause him to torture me when I get home.

My life at home is miserable.”

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Carrie and Boris Johnson, during mass at Westminster Abbey for Commonwealth Day, June 9, 2020. Getty Images

Jealousy and unfair dismissals

The book also points to the possessive and jealous character of Carrie Johnson, ex-Symonds.

The mother of “Bojo’s” last two children, Wilfred (1 year) and Romy (2 months), would aim to create a vacuum around him.

By first taking on his family, cutting him off from the four children born of his union with Marina Wheeler.

Then of his friends, and even of his most faithful collaborators.

The biography denounces in the wake of several unfair dismissals maneuvered, quietly, by the wife of Boris Johnson.

Among them, that of Ellie Lyons, former special adviser, dismissed from the Tory clan because "too attractive and intelligent".

"The then favorite of the Tory management was 'used by Carrie to do her dirty work', before the latter abruptly ended her career," says a source in the book, as reported by the

.

A fate that will also be reserved for Lee Clain in 2020, former director of communications for the Conservative Party, then, in the process, for his former gray eminence, Dominic Cummings.

Nicknamed “

” (crazy princess) by the latter, Carrie Johnson would have piloted behind the scenes to obtain the departure of her detractor, despite her skills.

Indeed, we owe him in particular the electoral victory of Boris Johnson in 2019. Conversely, the

assured, in an article published last April, that “all the important positions in Downing Street are now occupied by relatives or even close friends of Symonds", including Simone Finn, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, and Henry Newman, special adviser to Boris Johnson.

A pronounced taste for luxury

Of all the nicknames given to Boris Johnson's wife, one last appeared across the Channel: "Carrie-Antoinette", alluding to her pronounced taste for luxury.

In his book, Michael Ashcroft could not miss the scandals relating to the opulent lifestyle of the couple, which have splashed the head of the British government for the past two years.

Among them, the “Wallpapergate”, highlighting the huge expenses of the redesign of their apartment, at 10 Downing Street.

These, which amount to 232,000 euros, are suspected of having been paid by his party.

A renovation that had caused controversy by its sumptuous side but also because it had mobilized heavy teams in full confinement.

And on the pandemic side, the author obviously adds to this scandal that of Partygate, parties organized in Downing Street during periods of confinement, between 2020 and 2021. Revelations which, last December, provoked the ire of the whole country, calling for the resignation of the Head of State.

As such, Boris Johnson is currently living through dark times, caught between the anger of the British and the ongoing official investigation, which could cost him his place.

He is not alone in the turmoil: in his wake, always the shadow of his companion, Carrie.

The latter is suspected of having organized her husband's birthday on June 19, 2020. Could the young age of the wife be the cause of these clandestine parties?

At least that's what one of the book's sources thinks:

“He could have been a great Prime Minister but his lack of discipline, which led him to get involved with Carrie, cost him dearly.

Her potential to transform the country has been wasted and, as far as I'm concerned, it's because of her."

Read alsoThe Dolce Vita vacation of Carrie Symonds, the fiancée of Boris Johnson, scandalizes the British

Animal protection, but at what cost?

Finally, Carrie Johnson would have played a key role in another scandal attributed to her husband.

When the Taliban took power in Afghanistan in August 2021, the British Prime Minister reportedly favored rescuing animals, mainly cats and dogs, at the expense of the survival of locals trying to flee the country.

Indeed, the latter would have personally authorized the evacuation of animals from the Nowzad association, headed by Paul "Pen" Farthing, a friend of his wife and ex-Royal Navy.

Very committed to the fight for animal rights, Carrie Johnson, who left her post as director of communication for the Tory party in 2018, has since been involved in the animal protection association Aspinall Foundation.

In response to these allegations, sources close to Boris Johnson's wife denounced "sexist and misogynistic" attacks, made by "bitter former civil servants".

“Suing Carrie Johnson is undignified, unfair and just plain wrong.

She has no official role in government,” said Sajid Javid, UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, in an interview on

For his part, Boris Johnson would already take the lead, threatening, even before the release of the book, to sue its author, as reported by

.

An initiative that already delights the Ashcroft clan and the editions "Biteback Publishing", ironically on this unexpected publicity.

A boon to “increase sales.”