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One of Boris Johnson’s ministers has denied a report in the Italian media that the UK prime minister made a secret trip to the country less than a fortnight ago, a claim that Downing Street has also dismissed as “completely false”.
When asked if Johnson had landed in Perugia in the past two weeks, which the Umbrian airport said happened in a statement, Grant Shapps, the Transport Minister, told Sky News: “Not that I know of. I think he is wrong, as far as I know ”.
The Italian newspaper La Repubblica reported on the alleged trip after Barça footballer Luis Suárez flew to Perugia on September 17. The airport issued a press release saying that in addition to Suarez, Johnson had also arrived there in recent days.
La Repubblica said that after inquiries into Johnson’s trip, the San Francesco d’Assisi airport confirmed that he had landed there during the week before Suárez.
The newspaper quoted a member of the airport staff as saying that the British prime minister arrived on September 11, on a Friday or the day before. Another source said that he had arrived “on Friday, September 11 at 2:00 p.m. and left on Monday, September 14 at 7:45 a.m.”
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “This story is completely false. The prime minister has not traveled to Italy in recent months. Anyone who posts these claims is repeating a falsehood. “
The claim that Johnson made a seemingly covert visit to Perugia would be considered especially intriguing given that he has done so before. In April 2018, while he was foreign secretary, Johnson was photographed looking somewhat scruffy at the San Francesco d’Assisi airport.
It was learned that Johnson had stayed at Palazzo Terranova, a restored castle owned by media and social billionaire Evgeny Lebedev, known for hosting lavish parties.
Photos of Johnson at the airport suggested he went to Italy without a police escort. According to another passenger on the flight back to the UK, Johnson was alone, apparently without luggage and much worse from wear and tear.
