Boris Johnson’s father hits out at Mair interview

A BBC interview that saw Boris Johnson accused of being a “nasty piece of work” was branded a “disgusting piece of jour­nalism” by his father.

Stanley Johnson said he “felt great anger” towards broadcaster Eddie Mair, who was standing in as presenter on the Andrew Marr Show, for the way he had treated his son in the interview, which has since been dubbed a “bike crash” by pundits.

During the 15-minute exchange on Sunday, the mayor of London was grilled over matters of “integrity”, including suggestions that he had lied about having an extramarital affair.

Mr Johnson said his son had been openly abused and claimed the BBC had “sunk about as low as it could”.

“I thought Eddie Mair’s interview was about the most disgusting piece of journalism I’ve listened to for a very long time,” he said.

But the politician appeared to be at odds with his father yesterday when he said Mair had done a “splendid job”.

He said: “There is no doubt that is what the BBC is for – holding us to account.”

During the broadcast, the mayor was pressed over whether he lied to Tory leader Michael Howard about allegations of an affair in 2004.