Boris: I didn't lie

Boris Johnson today flatly contradicted Michael Howard by insisting he never lied to the Tory leader.

The former arts spokesman infuriated the party leadership with his statement, which appeared calculated to prolong the row over his sacking.

Mr Johnson was fired from the Conservative front bench on Saturday night when his a f fair with columnist Petronella Wyatt, 35, was dramatically confirmed by her mother. Lady Wyatt also disclosed that her daughter had an abortion when he rekindled their long-running fling.

Mr Howard asked Mr Johnson to resign in a brief telephone call and when he refused issued a statement saying he had been "relieved of his duties".

Officially, the reason for his dismissal was not the affair but because Mr Johnson "lied" when asked by Mr Howard whether or not it was true. Mr Howard's press spokesman said: "Boris Johnson denied the affair to Mr Howard and also to the Chief Whip. We do not recognise a right to lie for someone in public life, whatever the motive."

But Mr Johnson, speaking outside his front door in Highgate today, claimed: "No, I certainly didn't."

Friends of the MP and Spectator editor said he did not speak to Mr Howard until Saturday night and, therefore, could not have lied to him.

They conceded he had spoken to Guy Black, Mr Howard's press secretary, but said he failed to ask directly whether the rumours of his affair were true. "Boris didn't lie."

That evoked no sympathy from Tory officials who pointed to a statement made by the MP when the affair was first reported a week ago. He said then: "It is absolute rubbish, it is complete rubbish and it just isn't true."

The contradictions left relations between Mr Johnson and Mr Howard in tatters - and opened a divide among Tory MPs and ministers.

Supporting Mr Johnson was shadow defence secretary Nicholas Soames who refused on TV to endorse the sacking, hailed Mr Johnson as "one of the most brilliant and amusing and interesting men of his generation" and branded it "a very bad moment".

Mr Howard was being backed by chief whip David Maclean and his most senior shadow ministers, including Oliver Letwin. Shadow foreign secretary Michael Ancram insisted Mr Johnson only had himself to blame. Mr Ancram said: "In the end, Michael, when he realised Boris had not been frank with him, had to let him go."

Father of four Mr Johnson, 40, spent last night at his marital home where he lives with his wife of 11 years Marina.