BBC cancels Boris Johnson interview after Laura Kuenssberg's 'embarrassing mistake'

The BBC has cancelled an interview with Boris Johnson after Laura Kuenssberg accidentally sent the former prime minister her briefing notes.

Kuenssberg, who presents the broadcaster's Sunday politics show, said "there's no point pretending it's anything other than embarrassing and disappointing".

Revealing the error on X, she said she had been preparing to interview Mr Johnson on Thursday and "by mistake I sent our briefing notes to him in a message meant for my team".

"That obviously means it's not right for the interview to go ahead," she added.

The former BBC political editor said it was "frustrating" and there are "plenty of important questions to be asked".

"But red faces aside, honesty is the best policy," Kuenssberg added.

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The interview with Mr Johnson was due to be aired in a special 30-minute programme on Thursday evening and had been heavily promoted by the BBC for the past fortnight.

It was set to be the first interview as part of a media round for the former prime minister to publicise his new book Unleashed which is released on 10 October.

The BBC's press team said sharing the notes with Mr Johnson makes an interview with him "untenable".

A spokesman added: "Under the circumstances, both the BBC and Mr Johnson's team have agreed this is the best way forward."

Mr Johnson's publishers have said the book "will deliver unmissable cultural and political coverage that will have the nation talking".

Sky News will be airing an interview with Mr Johnson, carried out by presenter Wilfred Frost, next week.

Excerpts from the book have already been released in the print media, with Mr Johnson saying he is no longer sure lockdowns he imposed played a decisive role in defeating COVID.

He also claimed he considered authorising a raid on a warehouse in the Netherlands to retrieve COVID vaccines, admitting the plan was "nuts".

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The ex-Tory leader accused Rishi Sunak of forcing the end of Mr Johnson's political career by assassinating him - like Brutus killing Julius Caesar.

Mr Johnson said he had previously considered Mr Sunak to be a "friend and partner".

In the excerpts, Mr Johnson has also claimed Buckingham Palace asked him to persuade the Duke of Sussex to not leave the UK, and agreed to give him a "manly pep talk".