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Is Stanley Johnson in need of some technology lessons?

Oh dear. While most of us will have had an embarrassing IT cock-up at some point in our lives, most of us don’t have a Prime Minister for a son. So it was with some sympathy that Mr S saw the news that Stanley Johnson had mistakenly emailed details of a private meeting he had had with the Chinese ambassador to a BBC journalist.

What is less understandable is why the 79-year-old is freelancing for the Foreign Office in the first place. The government has insisted that Stanley was not acting at their request.

Johnson senior was attempting to relay notes from a discussion he had earlier this week with Liu Xiaoming, who told him that Beijing was unhappy with the lack of communication over coronavirus coming from No. 10. Stanley managed to forward on the message to environment minister Zac Goldsmith but somehow copied in a BBC email address.

If Stanley is seeking an IT refresher, perhaps he should get in contact with his son’s former acquaintance Jennifer Arcuri.

Steerpike
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Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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