Carrie Symonds receives a kiss from Boris Johnson after conference speech

Boris Johnson kissed his girlfriend Carrie Symonds after his speech to party members – at a conference which has been overshadowed by allegations about his private life.

The Prime Minister greeted Cabinet ministers before embracing Ms Symonds, kissing her on the cheek and then walking out of the hall holding her hand.

Ms Symonds, 31, wore a long pink dress and was seated next to Mr Johnson’s father, Stanley, for the speech at the conference in Manchester.

Claims that Mr Johnson squeezed the thigh of journalist Charlotte Edwardes at a private lunch at The Spectator magazine’s HQ shortly after he became editor in 1999 have overshadowed the annual gathering of party members.

He has also faced allegations about his relationship with American entrepreneur Jennifer Arcuri and whether she enjoyed preferential treatment while he was mayor of London.

Mr Johnson has insisted Ms Edwardes’s allegations are not true and has denied any impropriety in relation to the claims about Ms Arcuri.