Boris Johnson is accused of being open to blackmail over Russian ‘bunga bunga’ parties

Labor MP Matt Western claimed British intelligence services “couldn’t quite trust” Boris Johnson – and accused him of being open to blackmail after he allegedly attended a Russian oligarch’s “bunga-bunga” parties

Boris Johnson has been accused of allowing himself to be blackmailed by attending ‘bunga bunga’ parties thrown by a ‘Russian oligarch’.

And Labor MP Matt Western has claimed British intelligence “may not fully trust” the Prime Minister and asked him why he believed that.

Mr Western was referring to claims made by former Tory minister Rory Stewart, who revealed he was invited to a party at Evgeny Lebedev’s Italian villa where “there would be girls” and Mr Johnson.

The former Conservative, who was a minister at the time, said he was approached at the Tory party conference in 2018 when he was “Boris Johnson’s deputy” at the Foreign Office.

The prime minister, who was foreign minister in 2018, is under pressure over his ties to media mogul Yevgeny Lebedev.

It follows reports claiming MI5 and MI6 raised concerns before the Prime Minister appointed Baron Lebedev – the son of former KGB officer and Russian oligarch Alexander Lebedev – to the House of Lords in 2020.

Questioning Mr Johnson on the Prime Minister’s questions, Mr Western said: “A fantasy castle, maybe Snow White too, certainly girls, girls, girls were promised at a party. Less burlesque, more Berlusconi.

“According to a former minister, it seems the prime minister was entertained at these ‘bunga bunga’ parties thrown by his close friend, a Russian oligarch.”

He continued: “Given his many weaknesses that could make him vulnerable to blackmail, why does the Prime Minister think MI6 could not fully trust him?”

Mr Johnson did not address the allegations.

He said: “I’m afraid I wasn’t here last week to benefit from one of his artfully crafted questions.

“I admire his style Mr. Speaker, I’m afraid I just can’t see any substantive crouton in the acolyte nonsense he just spouted.”