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London (AP) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has come under pressure because of his close ties to the economy and possible false accusations against a former confidante.
Ex-government advisor Dominic Cummings protested on Friday against the allegation, indirectly launched from Downing Street, of being behind the publication of confidential text messages from Johnson.
Cummings wrote on his private blog that he was not "directly or indirectly" the source of the BBC story about an SMS exchange between Johnson and entrepreneur James Dyson.
The former confidante of the prime minister had left his post on Downing Street after a bitter argument among close advisors in December.
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The "Times", the "Telegraph" and the "Sun" had previously reported, citing sources from Downing Street, that Cummings should have issued the SMS messages.
The text message exchange between Johnson and Dyson last year was about possible tax breaks for Dyson's ventilator manufacturing company.
Johnson confessed to the news but defended his actions in the face of the crisis.
In his blog article, Cummings accused the Conservative government of unjustified suspicion of several leaks in the media on him.
"It is sad to see the Prime Minister and his office fall so far below the standards of integrity and competence this country deserves," wrote Cummings.
The former confidante of the prime minister was an important representative and strategist of the “Vote Leave” campaign for Brexit.
He had already come under public fire last year after he was caught on a private, unauthorized trip during the strict corona lockdown.
Johnson held onto him for months, however.
The ex-advisor was "bitter about what has happened since he left," said the Times, citing the anonymous source.
The government opened an official investigation into the leak, but did not officially comment on the speculation about Cummings.
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His allegations, which he raises on his private blog, go far beyond the Dyson case: Among other things, he accuses Johnson of wanting to stop an earlier investigation into a leak in connection with corona measures because a friend of his partner may be involved has been.
"I told him it was 'crazy' and totally unethical," said Cummings.
You could not stop a public investigation that affects millions of people.
Cummings called for an official investigation into the matter and offered to answer questions from the British MPs.
At a previous hearing, the 49-year-old had made serious allegations against the Johnson administration.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210423-99-329687 / 4