An American businesswoman at the centre of a cash link row involving Boris Johnson yesterday embarrassed the Prime Minister by revealing sensitive details about his several visits to her flat, but denied ever being shown favouritism.

Questions have been raised about huge sums of money given to the “entrepreneur, cyber security expert and producer” Jennifer Arcuri for her tech ventures and her closeness to the man who would go on to be Prime Minister.

Ms Arcuri said the pair had bonded over their “mutual love of classic literature” during his visits to her flat while he was mayor of London, and refused to answer questions on whether their relationship became an affair.

The former model had a poledancing pole installed in her home to help her keep fit and described the kit as a “conversation starter”. She said she and Mr Johnson “always had a laugh about it”.

She said: “The pole stood in the living room, yes, he saw the pole.”

When asked directly whether Mr Johnson had ever used the pole, Ms Arcuri said: “I’m never going to tell you that.”

Ms Arcuri was reportedly given £126,000 in public money and privileged access to three foreign trade missions led by Mr Johnson while he was in City Hall as London Mayor.

But Ms Arcuri said she had never discussed any sponsorship or grants with Mr Johnson.

When asked if she had asked Mr Johnson to help with any “sponsorship money”, she said: “Categorically no.”

Ms Arcuri denied ever directly asking Mr Johnson for sponsorship money. She said she used £10,000 given to her firm from London and Partners, the promotional agency run by the Mayor of London, to “produce [an] event” she hosted in 2013.

She said: “I produce good, really sexy, on-point events.”

Last month, the Prime Minister was referred to the police complaints body to assess whether he should face a criminal investigation over his association with her.

Labour has demanded a full investigation into the way Ms Arcuri received public funds.