Boris Johnson declares he will take paternity leave when partner Carrie Symonds has their first child this summer – despite his hectic work schedule with G7 and EU summits
- Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds announced at weekend they are having baby
- New arrival is expected in the ‘early summer’ – probably late May or early June
- The PM said he will ‘almost certainly’ take paternity leave when baby comes
Boris Johnson today declared he will take paternity leave when his partner Carrie Symonds has their child.
The couple announced at the weekend that they had become engaged, and are expecting their first child in the early summer – thought to be late May or early June.
The timing immediately raised questions about whether he would be able to take a break, as his working schedule appears to be hectic.
It includes a G7 summit in the US in June, and a crucial meeting with EU leaders on the post-Brexit trade deal the same month.
Carrie Symonds announced at the weekend that she and Boris Johnson are having a baby and are engaged
However, asked at a press conference in Downing Street today whether he would be taking paternity leave, Mr Johnson said: ‘Almost certainly, yes.’
The couple are the first unmarried one to live in Downing Street together for many years.
They met when Miss Symonds worked on his successful bid for a second term as London Mayor in 2012, but were only linked romantically in 2018, shortly after his split from Miss Wheeler.
They have made very few public appearances, with Miss Symonds often on the sidelines away from the rest of his family.
Mr Johnson’s former wife Marina Wheeler – with whom he has four children – has been granted a decree nisi, the initial stage of a divorce.
However, it is not clear if she has a decree absolute – the second stage in the process.
Miss Symonds, 31, is said to be keen on a home birth, which could mean the baby is born at No10 Downing Street or Chequers.
Friends reportedly say Ms Wheeler is ‘crushed’ by her ex-husband’s double announcement.
A source told The Sun: ‘Carrie has told Boris that a home birth is one thing she’s very keen on. She likes to do things her way.
‘She has a few options where she could have their firstborn. It could mean Downing Street, Chequers or even Chevening, Kent.’
Only one in 50 women in England and Wales opt for home births. There are greater risks of complications, from 5 in every 1,000 births in hospital to 9 in every 1,000 at home.
Asked at a press conference in Downing Street today whether he would be taking paternity leave, Mr Johnson said: ‘Almost certainly, yes.’
Miss Symonds, 31, moved into Downing Street with Mr Johnson last year (pictured together outside on December 13)