Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds had four explosive rows in six weeks — and nearly split up three weeks ago
BORIS Johnson and Carrie Symonds have been rocked by four explosive rows in six weeks.
Friends say they have been under massive pressure as Boris, 55, campaigns to become PM.
It came to a head last week when screams were heard at Carrie’s flat in Camberwell, South London.
A pal said: “This was by no means the first explosive row they’ve had.”
However, they say the pair are determined to stay together and make the relationship work.
Sources closes to Boris, 55, and Carrie, 31, said that was the culmination of a “testing” six weeks which has seen them have four blistering rows.
One friend told us: “Carrie and Boris have an incredibly volatile relationship — this was by no means the first explosive row they’ve had.
“The past six weeks have been especially testing for them both. They’ve had a series of corrosive arguments, with things obviously coming to a head on Thursday.
“But they very nearly split up at the start of the month.”
‘INCREDIBLY VOLATILE’
One of the arguments is thought to have occurred after Boris returned home from a night out later than Carrie expected.
The pal explained: “A couple of weeks ago Boris went out one evening and got home quite late, which sparked a huge spat.”
But our sources insisted the couple will work on their relationship and remain determined to stay together. Another friend said: “The fact Carrie is now so intrinsically linked to Boris means that she will not walk away quickly.
“They will both fight to keep this relationship.”
Boris is under mounting pressure from frustrated allies to break his silence over the row with the ex-Tory spin doctor, who now works for Bloomberg promoting cleaner oceans.
A Tory MP and close ally of Boris said: “Boris and Carrie are fine.
“He should close it down by saying, ‘Rows happen but we are all OK’. But he won’t, of course.”
The Sun can reveal the couple are staying at a secret address and might not return to Carrie’s flat in Camberwell, South London.
Close friends accused their downstairs neighbours who publicised their row of “driving them out of their home”.
The couple are likely to stay elsewhere at least for the duration of the Tory leadership campaign.
The incident has also drawn the couple closer together, the friend insisted. They said: “They’re in a very loving and stable relationship. They totally dote on one another.
“They’ve spent the weekend together after being driven out of their home in Camberwell and actually the events of the last few days have made them stronger than ever.
“But they really shouldn’t have to put up with this nonsense.”
BORIS & CARRIE DEFIANT
International Trade Secretary Liam Fox, who is backing leadership rival Jeremy Hunt, yesterday called on Boris to speak up for his own sake.
Dr Fox said: “It’s always easier to give an explanation.
“We’ve got to get away from these distractions again and talk about the policy issues.”
The demands came as a poll revealed that Boris’s lead among Conservative voters had been slashed in the wake of the scandal.
Boris’ reluctance to speak about the row helped fuel rumours in Westminster yesterday that his relationship with Carrie was in trouble. Labour also kept up its calls for answers from the would-be PM.
Shadow Communities Secretary Andrew Gwynne said: “When you’re running for public office, when you are wanting to be the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, then these matters are in the public interest.”
Boris-backing communities minister Rishi Sunak told Sky News the matter should be closed.
He said: “The police were called and what did they say? ‘Everyone was safe and well, and there was no need for further action’
“Given it was also a private incident, I think we should just leave it at that.”
FOUR ROWS IN SIX WEEKS
Asked about the incident at Saturday’s hustings in Birmingham by its host, LBC Radio’s Iain Dale, Boris said: “I don’t think they want to hear about that kind of thing, unless I’m wrong.”
Former Foreign Secretary Boris left his second wife Marina Wheeler last year.
He later moved into Carrie’s £750,000 apartment in an upmarket neighbourhood in Camberwell, South London.
Two police cars and a van arrived outside the flat after the 999 call late on Thursday night. Officers took no action and left within minutes.
Carrie has claimed she and Boris were “stitched up” by neighbours who leaked a recording of their row to the media.
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In it she is believed to have shouted “get off me” and “get out of my flat”.
Boris is reportedly heard loudly ordering his lover: “Get off my f***ing laptop”.
Mr Johnson’s spokesman refused to discuss his personal life publicly, insisting he never does as a cast-iron rule.
SWIRLING RUMOURS
VETERAN insider Adam Boulton revealed Boris Johnson’s love life was the subject of political gossip before last week’s row.
He wrote in the Sunday Times: “Rumours have been circulating at Westminster for several weeks that all was not going well between Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds.”
Sky News’ editor-at-large continued: “The ‘scrapes’ into which Boris Johnson has got himself are part of his public image.”
He said it “is likely to blow over” if she publicly declares it as a minor tiff.
But he added: “Things could get ugly if Symonds kicks him out of her flat, as she is reported to have wanted to do during their row.”
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