BRITAIN: Mr Boris Johnson MP has been relieved of his shadow arts portfolio by the Tory leader, Mr Michael Howard, as fresh details of his relationship with columnist Petronella Wyatt emerged.
The Spectator editor and father of four had previously dismissed reports of the liaison as "piffle".
However, he was contradicted by Lady Verushka Wyatt, mother of "Petsy" and widow of former Tote boss and author Lord (Woodrow) Wyatt.
Lady Wyatt also said her daughter had become pregnant and had an abortion after Mr Johnson tried to rekindle the affair.
Mr Johnson is thought to have been staying at a friend's house for much of the week. As he arrived at the family home in Highbury last night, he told waiting reporters to "bog off". Asked how he was feeling, he replied: "Tremendous, little short of superb. On cracking form."
Mr Johnson's father, Mr Stanley Johnson, himself a prospective Tory candidate, sent his son a message of "unshakeable love and support" from the depths of the Brazilian rain forest.
Mr Johnson said he was "100 per cent certain" Boris and wife Marina would work out their difficulties.