Boris Johnson attacks 'complete nonsense' over claims BBC chairman helped him ... trends now
Boris Johnson today hit out at 'complete nonsense' over claims the BBC chairman helped him secure a £800,000 loan while he was prime minister.
The former premier said the reports about Richard Sharp's involvement were 'just another example of the BBC disappearing up its own fundament'.
Mr Johnson, who has returned to London after a weekend trip to Ukraine, also insisted Mr Sharp 'knows absolutely nothing about my personal finances - let me tell you that for 100 per cent ding dang sure'.
It has been reported that Mr Sharp was involved in talks about how to arrange a loan guarantee for Mr Johnson in November and December 2020.
The discussions are said to have taken place just weeks before the then PM recommended Mr Sharp for the role as BBC chairman.
Mr Sharp, a former Goldman Sachs banker and an ex-adviser to current PM Rishi Sunak when he was Chancellor, today ordered a review into his appointment as head of the broadcaster.
In a statement, he admitted the row had become a 'distraction' for the BBC but insisted he had been given the BBC chairmanship 'on merit'.
Boris Johnson hit out at 'complete nonsense' over claims the BBC chairman helped him secure a £800,000 loan while he was prime minister
It has been reported that Richard Sharp was involved in talks about how to arrange a loan guarantee for Mr Johnson in November and December 2020
The discussions are said to have taken place just weeks before the then PM recommended Mr Sharp for the role as BBC chairman
Mr Johnson is reported to have secured a loan of up to £800,000 in late 2020 at a time when he faced financial troubles over divorce payments, childcare costs and bills for the refurbishment of his Downing Street flat.
According to the Sunday Times, Sam Blyth, a multimillionaire Canadian businessman and distant cousin of Mr Johnson, raised the idea of acting as the PM's guarantor and asked Mr Sharp, an old friend, for advice on the best way forward.
The newspaper claimed that Mr Sharp later discussed the matter with Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, while Mr Johnson, Mr Sharp and Mr Blyth are all said to have had a private dinner at Chequers before the loan was
