Sarah Vine

Boris Johnson 's wife Carrie has said She is The Target of a " brutal briefing campaign" by the PM's enemies.

A book, serialised in the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday this weekend, alleges She has influence on the Prime Minister 's decision-making.

Her spokeswoman said allegations made by Tory peer Lord Ashcroft were " just the latest attempt by bitter ex-officials" to discredit her.

She added: " She is a private individual who plays no role in Government . "

Lord Ashcroft has suggested Mrs Johnson's behaviour was " preventing him [the Prime Minister ] from leading Britain as effectively as the voters deserve".

There have been allegations of her involvement in matters including the She shares with her Family - She is said to have pushed for a luxury revamp of their Home - and the from the Nowzad charity in Kabul, Afghanistan.

No 10 has denied either Mr or Mrs Johnson, who works for a conservation group, had any involvement in the evacuation.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said Mrs Johnson was " under scrutiny in a way that perhaps other prime minsters' spouses weren't".

" The reportage that somehow She 's got Undue Influence , I don't think that's true, " he told Times Radio. " The Prime Minister has been in politics for 25 years and has a pretty strong set of ideas. "

He Said reporting about her was not sexist though, adding: " I wouldn't say that But I do think it's interesting when the spouse is someone in their 30s and has got open positions that are well known, people Feel Free to criticise - I think that's interesting. "

Michael Gove 's ex-wife, The Journalist Sarah Vine , said the Focus On Mrs Johnson was " the equivalent of political slut shaming". She told The Bbc 's Sunday Morning programme: " The trouble is, it's always the easiest thing to do to blame The Woman and The Truth is far more complicated than that. "

She added: " I know that the nickname Carrie Antoinette is witty and a good pun and we all Love A good pun, But I just don't think her head deserves to be on The Block in this way. "

Former chancellor George Osborne : " Whatever The Flaws and faults of the Boris Johnson Government - or indeed its successes - They are the responsibility of Boris, not his wife Carrie. Let's move on from this misogynistic Lady Macbeth nonsense. "

Former Prime Minister David Cameron 's wife Samantha said Last Year that descriptions of Mrs Johnson as " princess nut nut" by allies of former aide Dominic Cummings were sexist.

" I think it is very unfair to pick her out as having some kind of Undue Influence , " She Said .

In Lord Ashcroft's book, former cabinet minister John Whittingdale said The Influence She was said to have was inaccurate - But that The Johnsons " discuss things in a way that previous spouses [of Prime Ministers ] would not, because They were much less political".

He added that " Carrie has a tough time" and lives " a pretty lonely existence".

Source of news: bbc.com