Stanley Johnson accidentally forwarded Chinese officials’ concerns about son to journalist
Stanley Johnson with Liu Xiaoming. Photograph: Twitter. - Credit: Archant
The father of Boris Johnson accidentally forwarded an email which outlined Chinese officials' concerns about the prime minister to a BBC journalist.
The contents reveal the Chinese were concerned Johnson had not sent a personal message of support to the country's leaders after the coronavirus outbreak.
The BBC reported Johnson wrote: "Re the outbreak of coronavirus, Mr Liu obviously was concerned that there had not yet - so he asserted - been direct contact between the PM and Chinese head of state or government in terms of a personal message or telephone call."
He had sent the email after meeting the Chinese ambassador to the UK Liu Xiaoming to discuss environmental matters as a campaigner.
The PM's father sent the email to environment minister Lord (Zac) Goldsmith and other officials, but sent it to a BBC journalist rather than someone of the same name.
You may also want to watch:
"I merely reported," he told the PA news agency. "I think I said in my short note the Chinese ambassador asserted..."
He added: "I was copying in someone who happened to have the same name as a lady at the BBC.
Most Read
- 1 The bigot we should have called out on day one
- 2 The greatest failure of government in our lifetime
- 3 Nigel Farage launches new party in Scotland to promote 'positive case for the Union'
- 4 Matt Hancock praises free school meals before being reminded he voted against them
- 5 The worryingly familiar signs for Britain's vaccine roll-out
- 6 Brexiteer MP ridiculed after calling for free movement of goods between GB and NI
- 7 Brexit changes lead to exodus of Brits from Spain, UK nationals claim
- 8 Brexiteer says he'd never have voted for Brexit 'if we knew we'd lose our jobs'
- 9 Fears government could scrap workers' rights in post-Brexit overhaul of labour laws
- 10 Katie Hopkins joins UKIP in time for leadership contest
"These things happen."
MORE: Stanley Johnson booed by TV audience after defending son's comments about the Muslim veil
Johnson declined to say if he had discussed the Chinese concerns directly with the prime minister.
The PM's father also said in the email he had raised the possibility of his son visiting China later in the year to attend an international conference on biodiversity, COP15.
According to the BBC Lord Goldsmith sent a reply to Johnson, stating: "Thank you so much Stanley. That is extremely useful".
The Chinese ambassador shared pictures of him and Johnson on Twitter after their meeting.
Liu tweeted: "Thank you Mr. Stanley Johnson for expressing your sympathy and support to the Chinese people who are fighting the novel coronavirus.
"With the support of British friends, we have the confidence and capability to beat the virus!"
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.
