British health minister Sajid Javid said on Monday that some criticism of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s wife Carrie in the media was sexist, undignified and unfair.
Asked whether remarks about Carrie having an allegedly negative influence on the prime minsiter, Javid told Sky News: “It is sexist … Going after Carrie Johnson is undignified, it is unfair and it is wrong.”
Carrie Johnson herself has blamed “bitter ex-officials” for allegations she has too much influence over government policy.
Mrs Johnson’s role in Downing Street is under fresh scrutiny after a biography containing fresh claims about her wanting to “control everything” was serialised in a Sunday newspaper.
Lord Ashcroft’s book claimed that she used her husband’s phone to direct his staff during his leadership campaign, with advisers believing the instructions had come from him, and had orchestrated the sacking of a member of staff she did not like.
The claims come after months of criticism of Mrs Johnson from Tory MPs, who believe she exerts too much influence on policy making and staffing in Downing Street while their opinions are overlooked.
Lord Ashcroft, writing in the Mail, said his research had suggested her “behaviour is preventing him from leading Britain as effectively as the voters deserve”.
It has been alleged that Mrs Johnson has been caught up in a number of scandals involving the Prime Minister, including suggestions she pushed for the luxury redecoration of the flat the couple share in No 11 Downing Street and was key in the evacuation of animals from the Nowzad charity from Kabul.
No 10 has denied Mr and Mrs Johnson had any involvement in the evacuation.
The book also claims that Mrs Johnson forced out a special adviser, Ellie Lyons, because she thought she was “too attractive and intelligent”.
Carrie Johnson was previously a Conservative party official and worked for Zac Goldsmith, Sajid Javid and John Whittingdale. She has been a vocal supporter of environmental and animal rights causes.
She moved into Downing Street with the prime minister when he took office in July 2019, and they have since got married and had two children.
