Boris Johnson’s relationship with Carrie Symonds is interesting – but it won’t always be in the public interest

The prime minister’s private life will only really matter if it interferes with his job

What shall we do with Carrie?

Slightly condescending tone there; not meant to be. What Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds decide is the best way for them to live their lives is actually their business. The Independent (Symonds’ father, Matthew Symonds, was one of the founders) was never going to take a censorious view of what people get up to in their private lives.

We do not, for example, share the antique opinion of the ex-editor of the Daily Mail, Paul Dacre, in The Spectator diary: “The Tories, with two women PMs to their credit, have achieved another historic first: scuppering the belief – argued by the Daily Mail in my 26 years as editor – that politicians with scandalous private lives cannot hold high office. I make no comment on this, or about the 31-year old minx who is the current Boris Johnson bedwarmer.”