BORIS Johnson and his wife Carrie broke strict coronavirus lockdown rules last Christmas to spend the festive period with a friend at Number 10, reports have claimed.

Harper’s Magazine claims Nimco Ali, a political campaigner and Home Office adviser, was invited to Downing Street despite London and the south east being placed under tier 4 restrictions amid a surge in cases.

No 10 and Mr Johnson’s spokesman have both denied that the couple broke their own rules, but did not deny that Ali joined them at Christmas.

A No 10 spokesman said: “The Prime Minister and Mrs Johnson have followed coronavirus rules at all times. It is totally untrue to suggest otherwise.”

The Prime Minister’s spokeswoman added: “The PM and Mrs Johnson have followed coronavirus rules at all times. It is totally untrue to suggest otherwise.”

The Haper’s Magazine article was written by Lara Prendergast, executive editor of the Spectator, which Mr Johnson used to edit.

His official spokesman will face further questions about the incident today as he takes questions from Westminster journalists.

London and the south east of England had been placed under strict Covid lockdown just a week before Christmas.

Plans to allow mixing between households were scrapped, with social mixing restricted to just one person in an open public space, unless people lived with them or they were part of their existing support bubble.

Ali, who godmother to the Johnsons’ son Wilfred, was handed a top role at the Home Office last year.

She was appointed an adviser on tackling violence against women and girls in October, and is said to be earning £350 a day. The post was not advertised.