The foreign secretary has evaded answering questions on the latest ‘sleaze’ allegations surrounding Boris Johnson to hit the Conservative Party.

James Cleverly was asked about a claim that the BBC chairman Richard Sharp helped the former prime minister arrange a guarantee on a loan of up to £800,000, weeks before he was then recommended for the job by Mr Johnson.

Mr Cleverly admitted he had not tried to contact the ex-PM to seek clarity on the situation today, telling Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday: “You’re the journalist not me.”

Labour has reported Mr Johnson to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards following the report in the Sunday Times, which his spokesperson denied as “rubbish”.

The allegation comes amid continued questions over Nadhim Zahawi’s tax affairs after the Tory party chairman admitted to a “careless not deliberate” error.

Pat McFadden, the Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said taken together the stories were damaging public trust in politicians and that is “really corrosive to governance”.

He told Sophy Ridge: “It’s very easy for the public to conclude that all politicians are the same and in it for themselves.

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“I think with the Boris Johnson stuff, he almost relies on that level of cynicism so that people conclude, no scandal matters, nothing matters because that’s what they’re all like anyway.”

Asked if the report about Mr Johnson was true, Mr Cleverly said: “Well, I’ve not had a conversation with either of those parties about that situation.”

However, he insisted that, as far as he can see, Richard Sharp’s appointment as BBC chair was made on his merits.

“I have met with Richard, we discussed the (BBC) World Service, he struck me as an incredibly competent, experienced, thoughtful individual. I can see exactly why he has the attributes, both personal, professional, to be the chair of the BBC.

“So, as far as I can see, his appointment was made on those merits.”

M

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