Carrie joins Camilla for event on violence against women
Boris Johnson's wife Carrie Johnson has attended an event with the Duchess of Cornwall in Rwanda in the week allegations emerged that the PM attempted to get her a top job with the Royal Family.
Mrs Johnson travelled with the prime minister to Rwanda for a Commonwealth heads of government meeting on Thursday. The Prince of Wales and Camilla are also visiting the country for the summit.
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On Thursday afternoon Mrs Johnson was spotted with Camilla at a Violence Against Women and Girls event in the Kigali Convention Centre.
A number of reports have emerged in the past week alleging attempts by the prime minister to get his wife various jobs in government.
On Monday, it was alleged the prime minister had discussed with aides giving Mrs Johnson a communications director role for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2020.
Number 10 failed to these deny allegations, originally published by The Mirror, and instead insisted Mr Johnson had not officially recommended her for the position working for Prince William and Kate.
Among other jobs she was reportedly considered for was a £100,000-a-year special adviser role at the foreign office when Mr Johnson was foreign secretary.
The claims emerged in The Times on Saturday, before the article was removed from later print editions with Number 10 admitting they contacted the paper about the story.
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Mrs Johnson has denied the allegations. “These claims are totally untrue,” her spokesperson said on Monday.
However Downing Street has refused to comment directly on the situation, with the PM's spokesperson telling reporters: "As a function of my role, I don’t comment on what the prime minister did before he was prime minister.
It comes during what is set to be an awkward trip in Rwanda after Prince Charles reportedly called the government's new and controversial Rwanda asylum seeker scheme "appalling".
When asked about the remarks, the prime minister said he intended to urge the future king to keep an "open mind".
The scheme in question involves deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda if they do not arrive to the UK via government approved routes. Once in Rwanda, their asylum claim will be processed under Rwandan law.
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If successful, refugees will be offered asylum there and will not be given the option to return to the UK.
“People need to keep an open mind about the policy, the critics need to keep an open mind about the policy," said Johnson in Rwanda on Thursday.
“A lot of people can see its obvious merits. So yeah, of course, if I am seeing the prince tomorrow, I am going to be making that point.”
Watch:PM to stress 'obvious merits' of asylum policy to Charles