Boris Johnson has denied solutions that allegations about his personal life are overshadowing the Conservative Party conference.
Number 10 has dismissed an allegation from journalist Charlotte Edwardes – that Mr Johnson squeezed her thigh throughout a lunch 20 years in the past – as “untrue”.
The alleged incident occurred when the PM was editor of The Spectator journal.
Reacting to Downing Street’s denial, Ms Edwardes mentioned: “If the prime minister doesn’t recollect the incident then clearly I have a better memory than he does.”
The story has dominated headlines as the Conservatives maintain their annual conference.
It follows claims that former mannequin Jennifer Arcuri acquired public cash and was afforded privileged entry to overseas commerce missions whereas Mr Johnson was London mayor.
The PM has dismissed any wrongdoing over his hyperlinks with Ms Arcuri.
Asked if the allegations had been taking the focus away from coverage bulletins in Manchester, he mentioned: “Not in any respect. I believe what the public needs to listen to is what we’re doing to convey the nation collectively and get on with bettering their lives.
“I believe I might make one normal remark. I believe there are lots of people who mainly need to cease us delivering Brexit on October 31.
“But I’ve to inform you we’re not going to be deterred from that ambition. We are going to get on and do it, we’re going to get us over the line.
“I believe that that’s the smartest thing for the nation as a result of it has been happening a very long time now, this row over Brexit.”
Asked if Ms Edwardes had made it up, the PM responded: “I’m simply saying what I’ve mentioned.
“What the public needs to listen to is what we’re doing for them and for the nation and the funding in methods of uniting the nation.”
Writing her first column for The Sunday Times, Ms Edwardes mentioned the alleged incident happened at the London places of work of The Spectator shortly after Mr Johnson turned editor in 1999.
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She wrote: “I’m seated on Johnson’s proper; on his left is a younger lady I do know.
“More wine is poured; extra wine is drunk. Under the desk I really feel Johnson’s hand on my thigh. He provides it a squeeze.
“His hand is excessive up my leg and he has sufficient inside flesh beneath his fingers to make me sit immediately upright.”
After the lunch, she mentioned she had confided in the younger lady who was sitting on the different aspect of Mr Johnson, who instructed her: “Oh God, he did exactly the same to me.”
The Spectator’s commissioning editor Mary Wakefield has mentioned she is “not the woman referred to” in the column.
Ms Wakefield, who’s married to the PM’s senior adviser Dominic Cummings, mentioned: “I’m not the lady referred to in Charlotte Edwardes’ column.
“Boris was a great boss and nothing like this ever occurred to me. Nor has Charlotte, who I like and admire, ever mentioned the incident with me.”
Chancellor Sajid Javid earlier instructed Sky News that “I completely belief the prime minister and his phrase.”
Mr Javid will ship the keynote speech on the second day of the conference.
He will element a multibillion-pound spending blitz on roads, buses and broadband, together with plans for an all-electric bus city.
Earlier, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick set out plans to chop crimson tape which might assist householders trying to prolong their properties and small builders constructing new houses.
Meanwhile, Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey has introduced that new apps geared toward serving to younger folks discover work will probably be trialled as a part of a multimillion-pound employment initiative.
