Personal attacks on Carrie Johnson, accusing the Prime Minister’s wife of meddling in the work of government, are based on “sexism” and “misogyny” a Tory cabinet Minister has said.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid hit back at an unauthorised biography about Carrie Johnson which paints a portrait of her as controlling her husband’s Downing Street operation.
The book released by Tory peer Lord Ashcroft’s claimed her “behaviour is preventing” the prime minister “from leading Britain as effectively as the voters deserve”.
Speaking on a morning media round, Javid told Sky News: “First of all, the partners of politicians should be off limits."
“I do think there is sexism involved in this. I really do."
He added: "I think going after Carrie Johnson is very unfair, it’s undignified and it’s just wrong.”
Johnson’s spokesperson released a rare statement to address these accusations on Sunday, which Javid said he supported.
It read: “Yet again Mrs Johnson has been targeted by a brutal briefing campaign against her by enemies of her husband.
“This is just the latest attempt by bitter ex-officials to discredit her.
“She is a private individual who plays no role in government.”
Javid also pointed out that the prime minister’s wife has no formal role in government, even though she was previously Javid’s special adviser and head of press within the Tory Party.
Javid was on the defensive when it was pointed out to that Johnson was a key political appointment before her marriage to the Prime Minister.
Javid replied: “No, she was a special adviser, she was working in campaign headquarters but she is no longer.
“She is now the spouse to the Prime Minister, her residence is Downing Street she is the mother to two children, and I just think the kind of focus we are seeing on her now is undignified and unfair.”
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