She's only 31, and plugged into a rising generation of hyper-ambitious millennials. Read More Others have made substantial investments in media and industry. The group had several notable Parliamentarians on its board, including former Defence and Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind as its Honorary President, and John Whittingdale MP, Andrew Rosindell MP, Nigel Evans MP, and Robert Buckland MP among its Honorary Vice Presidents. She told Byline Times: my involvement with the Ukraine APPG [All-Party Parliamentary Group] was entirely voluntary on an informal and part-time basis. Bird, Steve; Sheridan, Danielle; Horton, Helena (3 May 2020). As Otto English has confirmed on Byline Times, his visits to Lebedevs infamous Tuscan parties on one occasion as Foreign Secretary without his security detail have spooked the spooks. Russias foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova went to his Moscow book launch. [23] Symonds was present when Whittingdale and others launched Conservative Friends of Russia (later called the Westminster Russia Forum and disbanded in March 2022) and has attended several of its meetings. Back in 2012, the Foreign Policy journal noted that the websites news feedcontinued to feature only state-owned or state-subsidised outlets. Rebecca Fulton/Getty Images. It was active in the campaign calling on the UK Foreign Office to allow British Arctic Veterans of World War Two to receive the Russian Ushakov Medal. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. UPDATE (9 March 2022): This article has been amended at the request of Ernest Reid to clarify his role within the WRF. It is clear in retrospect that the Russian attempt to intervene in British politics was a two-pronged affair. On October 19 2015 Mistress Kate was scheduled to work at the London Retreat [her dungeon]. [55] Writing in The Sunday Times, Marie Le Conte disagreed that such criticism is sexist. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. Whittingdale, then Culture Secretary, was in the room and appeared to take the gag well as he roared with laughter. Downing Street flat redecoration scandal Carrie Symonds Tatler | Tatler The following month, she was barred from entering the United States as her visa application was rejected due to a previous visit with her close friend Nimco Ali to Somaliland, which the US considers to be part of immigration-restricted Somalia. The right-wing MP for Maldon, Margaret Thatcher acolyte and long-term Brexiter might play a get-out-of-jail card in that the registered money he received came via a cut-out for not a Russian but a Ukrainian oligarch however one so close to the Kremlin that the distinction doesnt bite. By Anne McElvoy. At the end of November 2012 it emerged that the group's key contact at the Russian Embassy in London was First Secretary Sergey Nalobin, the son of a KGB/FSB general, whose brother also served in the FSB. John Whittingdale was speaking at the same event just before him.. Boris Johnson's girlfriend and Tory PR guru, set to join new prime minister in 10 Downing Street", "Carrie Symonds: Who is Boris Johnson's fiancee? You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER . Mrs Johnson was first romantically linked to her now husband by the media in early 2019. Whittingdale enjoyed 14,435 of free trips to Ukraine and Vienna paid for by the British Ukraine Society (BUS) which shared the same Knightsbridge address as the Firtash Foundation and the main Firtash entity, Group DF. Whittingdale was accompanied by an office aide, Carrie Symonds, who was promoted to special advisor when he moved into the Cabinet in 2015. Luke Hardings latest book Shadow State: Murder, Mayhem and Russias Remaking of the West (Guardian Faber) is available from the Guardian Bookshop. The government has announced the closure of the Tier 1 golden visa scheme used by a number of oligarchs from Russian and former Soviet-bloc countries to relocate to Britain, as well as imposing sanctions against five Russian banks and three Russian oligarchs. A gangster with a conviction for firearms was also reportedly going out with King at the same time as Whittingdale and was trying to sell tapes of King talking about what she did with the then Culture Secretary. Is Whittingdale vulnerable? A former security official told the Byline Times he could absolutely confirm that members of the intelligence services are aware and concerned. Three named directors are Richard Glasspool, a former partner at KPMG Russia and former head of the risk committee of the Credit Bank of Moscow, run by Putin-friendly oligarch Roman Avdeev; Kirill Glukhovskoy, formerly a senior lawyer with major Russian energy companies according to the Aquind website; and oligarch Alexander Temerko. This breach was referred to the National Crime Agency by the Information Commissioner, Elisabeth Denham. Nalobin, the son of a senior officer in the FSB, the successor to the KGB, founded the Conservative Friends of Russia, a parliamentary group. In spring 2018, Johnson flew to the Lebedevs villa in Perugia, Italy. This group was launched in the Russian Embassy's gardens in August 2012 by Yakovenko and Nalobin, and attended by senior Conservatives such as the then chair of the DCMS Committee, and soon-to-be Culture Minister, John Whittingdale, who was the group's honorary vice president. The Bow Group said No 10 needed to . [57], In December 2021, Politico Europe named her as one of the "disrupters" in its annual list of 28 people who will shape Europe in the year to come. If you can, please show your appreciation for our free content by donating whatever you think is fair to help keep TLE growing and support real, independent, investigative journalism. He introduced him to the prime minister, David Cameron. [2], In 2009, Symonds joined the Conservative Party as a press officer. The group hosted events in London and at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham in 2012. [24][25], Symonds became the Conservative Party's head of communications in 2018,[26] but left the position later that year,[17] taking up a job in public relations for the Oceana project. [33], She began an affair with British politician Boris Johnson, then Foreign Secretary, in 2018 while he was still married to his second wife, Marina Wheeler. Spouse of the prime minister of the United Kingdom, 2010 London Conservative Party mayoral selection, Communities, Local Government and Housing Secretary, refurbishment of the 11 Downing Street flat, "Under new management: is Carrie Symonds the real power at No 10? Boris Johnson to marry fiancee Carrie Symonds in July 2022, report says There are also slight partisan differences in the U.S. on the choice of a close relationship with Russia or Germany. One of the other billionaires behind AAR, Sir Leonard (Len) Blavatnik, also wields significant influence in the UK. A conservative think tank has called for an independent inquiry into Boris Johnson's fiance, Carrie Symonds, and her "possible influence" in government. We also introduce new voices of colour in Our Lives Matter. UPDATE: Following the publication of this story, the Westminster Russia Forum put out an overnight statementdisassociating itself from the invasion of Ukraine and saying it had "suspended all planned events until further notice". The Bow Group said No 10 needed to. 2. Firtashs closeness to the Kremlin, his association with Trump consigliere-turned-convict Paul Manafort and his arrest warrant issued by the FBI are facts that can be reported and cannot be denied. Not another story about Whittingdale! I laugh about it all day.. In recent years, Lebedev has come under scrutiny over his close personal ties with Boris Johnson. Revealed: Boris, the Russian oligarch and the Page 3 model Businesspeople born in the Soviet Union play a significant role in British business and politics. A conservative think tank has called for an independent inquiry into Boris Johnson's fiance, Carrie Symonds, and her "possible influence" in government. [32][2], Symonds was previously in a relationship with The Sun journalist Harry Cole. The Times has reported that a fourth, controlling figure in Aquind has been granted rare anonymity by Companies House, despite anti-corruption rules promoting greater transparency in 2016. Nalobin, who now lives in a Moscow apartment block known as the FSB block, is the son of Nikolai Nalobin, a former KGB general. The controversial trip attracted significant adverse coverage and, after a further string of scandals, a number of Tory MPs who had been patrons all resigned, including Robert Buckland, Nigel Evans and former foreign secretary Malcolm Rifkind. Farages support for Putin was vocal until recently and he has twice described the Russian President as the most impressive world leader. Its 2012 launch party took place in the Russian ambassadors Kensington garden. Lebedev later acquired the Independent and launched a successful spinoff version, the i. Hawley added: Friends of groups of political parties are alarmingly unregulated, and provide a back door for unofficial lobbying, access and paid influence. Other Ukrainians are critical of Whittingdale for evidently being closely connected to Firtash, given the latters chumminess with the Kremlin. As a Ukrainian living in the UK, I am a patriot and wished to assist my home country in a time of crisis. Find out more about us. According to the Observer, he was keen to get involved in fundraising for the Conservative Party and wanted to know of the rivalry between David Cameron and Boris Johnson. If you have any queries about republishing please contact us. It is high time that these groups were brought out of the shadows, properly regulated, and that the public are able to have far greater insight into how they operate and who is behind them.. The organisation started life as the Conservative Friends of Russia - which Chairman Nic Cobb claims has been "dissolved" for years. [37] She used to be a practising Catholic and had her son baptised into the Catholic Church. The first event was co-hosted with blogger Paul Staines. Conservative Friends of Russia held its 2012 launch party in the Russian ambassador's Kensington garden, with about 250 Russian and British guests present, including Tories who went on to. Minister John Whittingdale was the groups honorary vice-president when it first launched, he attended the opening with then office aide Carrie Symonds, now Carrie Johnson, wife of Prime Minister Johnson. She left the role shortly before it was publicly revealed she was dating Boris Johnson. Super-wealthy businessmen from former Soviet countries also control a dizzying array of UK assets spanning football clubs, oil and gas and multimillion-pound mansions. Whatever youre interested in, theres a free openDemocracy newsletter for you. The source for the Firtash-Mogilevich connection was reportedly Firtash himself to then US Ambassador to Ukraine, William Taylor, in 2008. ", He also stressed that the forum was now non-partisan despite its Conservative roots, and said: "We rarely meet anyone from Parliament, our civil service or other political institutions, and have for some years now focused on promoting trade and softer areas of cooperation none of which requires lobbying. The dam broke first with a piece by Nick Mutch on Byline.com, setting out Whittingdales non-registration of a trip with King to the MTV Awards in Amsterdam. Whittingdales responsibilities at the DCMS include oversight of foreign television networks, including the Kremlins poodle network RT. Cash has also gone to Theresa Villiers, who sits on the ISC. [38], Symonds married Boris Johnson on 29 May 2021 in a secret ceremony at Westminster Cathedral attended by thirty guests. Media advisor and wife of former British prime minister Boris Johnson, For other people named Carrie Johnson, see, GRO Register of Births = MAR 1988 15 449 WANDSWORTH - Caroline Louise B. Symonds, mother's maiden name = Lawrence. What drives First Fiance Carrie Symonds, asks Freddy Gray The Covid-19 public inquiry is a historic chance to find out what really happened. We scrambled so hard to get our BBC Newsnight story on that night, running the extraordinary statement drafted by Carrie Symonds, that I mispronounced dominatrix much to the amusement of then-editor Ian Katz. "[59], In June 2022, an article by Simon Walters appeared in The Times alleging that Boris Johnson recommended Carrie, who was then his mistress, as a candidate for a 100,000 per annum job as Chief-of-Staff in the Foreign Office while Johnson was Foreign Secretary. The group was founded in 2012 by Richard Royal, a communication specialist for Ladbrokes, and has held over 80 events since then. The press release was coincidental with the chair of the All-party parliamentary group on Russia being due for renewal.[8]. Though the gold consolidation deal was pursued for several months, Banks says he never took up any of these offers. It does indeed, most relevant given his various Russian connection. As the report states: The extent to which Russian expatriates are using their access to UK businesses and politicians to exert influence in the UK is ***. The committees asterisks cover a multitude of sins. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Its launch party was at the Russian ambassador's Kensington garden in 2012, and attended by Tory MPs, peers and Russian diplomats. [54], Conservative MP Caroline Nokes asserted that Carrie Johnson's influence has been exaggerated for sexist purposes;[53] she has been likened to both Lady Macbeth and Marie Antoinette ("Carrie Antoinette") by her critics. The exemption has been granted because they would be at risk of serious violence or intimidation if their identity was published. We do not charge or put articles behind a paywall. [2] She was brought up by her mother in East Sheen, South West London, and between 1999 and 2006 attended Godolphin and Latymer School, a private day school for girls. Receive our monthly print edition and help to support fearless, independent journalism. Permission was sought from the editor to go the club and speak to her. Barker and Deripaska are not the only peer and oligarch double-act on the UK business scene. Mamut owns extensive media assets in Russia, including the news website Lenta.ru. ", "Carrie Johnson: Who is the prime minister's wife? [53] Cummings later said in 2021 that Symonds acted "illegally" in awarding influential jobs to her friends, including press secretary Allegra Stratton. After the USSRs collapse, Lebedev went into banking and the media. Please check individual images for licensing details. [39][40] In July 2021, she announced that they were expecting their second child together, also revealing that she had suffered a miscarriage earlier that year. What is disturbing is just how often he has been the recipient of the generosity of a Soviet-born oligarch, Dmytro Firtash, currently being sought by the FBI for corruption charges. According to the Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry last week, an official-level whistleblower has raised concerns about Cummings time in Russia, and questions about his relationships with figures in Russian politics, intelligence, and security as well as his relationship with Nalobins Conservative friends of Russia. His Leave.EU campaign also regularly recycled Russian racist propaganda. Reactions to Johnson-Symonds wedding announcement, Brits Spend Billions On University Degrees They Never Use, UK joins US in withdrawing staff and families from Ukraine embassy, Two women who lost family to stabbings unveil latest knife-drive haul, EuroMillions Results for Friday 26 August 2022 Tonights winning numbers. The world found out about their conversation in December 2010 thanks to a Wikileaks cable, although Firtash has denied what the ambassador said he said. He spent 40,000 on a portrait of Margaret Thatcher. After that meeting, Farage made almost monthly appearances on RT. They say he let her see confidential documents in his ministerial Red Box, texted her photos from Chequers, and was asked to leave the American Bar at the Savoy Hotel after mutual drunken heavy petting. [2] She has also worked as a media special adviser for Conservative Cabinet ministers Sajid Javid (Communities, Local Government and Housing Secretary) and John Whittingdale (Culture, Media and Sport Secretary). The DCMS is the lead department for policing our digital frontier and Whittingdale is in charge of its international strategy. [47] She was additionally involved in a political controversy over the refurbishment of the 11 Downing Street flat,[47] and her comments over the flat's decor being a "John Lewis furniture nightmare" (John Lewis typically being an aspirational, upper-middle-class shop) led to accusations of snobbery. The BUS is headed by ex-MP Richard Spring, now Lord Risby; on the advisory board is Lord Oxford who as Raymond Asquith, MI6 officer, got Soviet defector Oleg Gordievsky out of Russia in a car boot. [28][2] These accusations were claimed by an anonymous "longtime colleague" to be a smear campaign allegedly spread by Symonds's political strategist, Lynton Crosby (subsequently denied by Crosby). It has been valued at more than 300m after extensive refurbishment. Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his partner, Carrie Symonds, wave from the steps of 10 Downing Street in London. As Sue Hawley, the director of Spotlight on Corruption, stated in OpenDemocracy: Friends of groups of political parties are alarmingly unregulated and provide a back door for unofficial lobbying, access and paid influence. Find out more about us. Is it possible that the minister has acted so recklessly that he could be embarrassed by the Russian secret state? [56] Journalist Sarah Vine, on the other hand, said that while it is easy to "blame the woman", the truth is "far more complicated", adding that Johnson's head did not deserve "to be on the block". Meanwhile, Russian-born oligarchs remain close to the Prime Minister and his entourage. Our leading investigations include: empire & the culture war,Brexit, crony contracts,Russian interference,the Coronavirus pandemic,democracy in danger, andthe crisis in British journalism. [19][20], Symonds was the result of an affair between her parents, who were both married to other people at the time. Meet the woman driving the Government's animal welfare policies - and Call for inquiry into Carrie Symonds' influence in No 10 Peter Jukes reports on more revelations about the transatlantic right-wing network, and why the Government is withholding key information on the former Prime Ministers role, The former Prime Minister feared his discussions with the US President about privatising the NHS would cause "mischief" if they became public, according to a new book, The Home Secretary is a keynote speaker at the conference, which has previously hosted Hungarian autocrat Viktor Orban, reports Karam Bales, Natalia Kogut and Maren Rohe explore the challenges Ukrainian refugees face accessing healthcare, housing and work under the Government's Homes for Ukraine scheme, Anthony Yates looks at Rishi Sunak's promises over inflation which might help him cynically suppress public pay demands but do nothing to address the roots of our economic malaise, Exclusive analysis by Byline Times uncovers the staggering amounts being paid by forces for public and employer liability claims, Byline Media Holdings Ltd, Byline Times &, indicted for election interference in the US, 3,613 new Internet Research Agency accounts. The Independent was a tenant of Associated Newspapers and the Mail group, Cusick suggested, liked Whittingdales policy of not implementing the full Leveson reforms on Fleet Street. He later left Moscow and became a British citizen in 2011. It said the industrialist had funded some of Johnsons key allies in parliament, including James Wharton, who ran Johnsons successful prime ministerial campaign. [7], The group's neutrality and support was questioned by the media, despite the group stating no political links or bias to Russia and made it clear that its funding comes from membership and events, by publishing its financial accounts. Ask George Osborne, Craig Oliver or Carrie Symonds. Alexander Lebedev bought the loss-making Evening Standard newspaper in 2009, installing his son Evgeny as proprietor. Good reporters dont pry into other peoples bedrooms and Whittingdale has as much right to privacy as anyone. Although the WRF calls itself a think tank, there is no record of any research ever published by the group. [34] On 16 August 2019, she made her first public appearance since entering 10 Downing Street, when she addressed what she called the "gigantic" climate crisis. Though he at first denied it, Farage met the Russian Ambassador Alexander Yakovenko in May 2013. Tymofienko is now working on an 800,000 scheme promoting intellectual property in Ukraine at QMC London funded by the British Government. [35][36], On 29 February 2020, Symonds and Boris Johnson announced that they had become engaged in late 2019 and were expecting their first child together in early summer. Carrie Symonds' influence at No 10 extends much further than the decor Craig Oliver, David Camerons spin doctor, takes up the story in his surprisingly good book, Unleashing Demons: I am almost home that evening when I get a call from John Whittingdales Special Adviser, Carrie Symonds Carrie has already drafted a statement which includes the following: Between August 2013 and February 2014, I had a relationship with someone who I first met through Match.com. On 29 February 2020, Symonds and Johnson announced that they had become engaged in late 2019. It has existed in some form for a decade, yet is not required to register as a lobbyist, sparking fears that pro-Putin interests could be influencing opinion unchecked. Another prominent figure is Andrei Borodin, the former president of the Bank of Moscow. The problem is that Russias security services have no such scruples and that the Russian President Vladimir Putin has form when he was head of the KGB for identifying then Russias Prosecutor-General as the man in bed with two prostitutes on a grainy video. E.g. While the ISC report has been suppressed during Britains General Election campaign, another report was published in February this year by another official UK parliamentary committee the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Committee, chaired by Conservative politician Damian Collins, into disinformation and fake news. [9][10][11][12] She was the first unmarried partner of a prime minister to reside at Downing Street. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point. He admitted to being behind early plots to remove Theresa May. He said he had zero intention of going to Russia. At previous such events, dozens of speakers have urged stronger ties to the Putin government. The Israeli-Russian billionaire has limited UK business interests outside football, but his extensive property portfolio includes a 15-bedroom mansion in Londons prestigious Kensington Palace Gardens, bought for 90m in 2011.

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