UK government investigating leak of PM Johnson's messages to businessman

[April 22, 2021]    LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's government is investigating the leak of private communications between Prime Minister Boris Johnson and inventor James Dyson, Johnson's spokesman said on Thursday.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds a news conference at 10 Downing Street, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in London, Britain, April 20, 2021. REUTERS/Toby Melville/Pool/File Photo

"We have instructed the Cabinet Office to look into this," the spokesman said when asked if there would be a leak inquiry.

On Wednesday, Johnson said he would make no apology for giving tax assurances via text message to Dyson to help secure ventilators for patients suffering with COVID-19. The messages were reported by the BBC.

(Reporting by William James, editing by Elizabeth Piper)

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