BORIS JOHNSON will attend his first G7 summit as British Prime Minister this weekend to discuss global challenges such as the economy, foreign policy, the environment and inequalities. The forum will take place from August 24 to 26 in Biarritz, France and is attended by the “Group of 7” which includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States and the UK. Mr Johnson’s live-in girlfriend Carrie Symonds made news this week after she applied to go to the US, but her request was blocked by authorities. So does this mean she will instead join Boris Johnson in Biarritz?

The seven largest IMF-defined advanced economies in the world will meet this weekend to shape global responses to wider challenges which affect countries around the world.

These G7 countries represent 58 percent of the global net wealth which equates to $317 trillion (£260,540 billion).

Specifically the attendees this weekend will be:

• Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
• French President Emmanuel Macron
• German Chancellor Angela Merkel
• Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte
• Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe
• British Prime Minister Boris Johnson
• US President Donald Trump

Will Carrie Symonds join Boris Johnson at the G7 summit?

Carrie Symonds has a history of working in the political work, having previously worked as the director of communications for the Conservative Party.

She reportedly resigned once her relationship with Mr Johnson was exposed.

Since leaving the Tory party, she has worked as a senior advisor to ocean conservation charity Oceana.

Largely, before Mr Johnson became prime minister, she kept out of the public eye.

However, recently she and Mr Johnson made their first joint appearance together and it is expected the couple will continue to attend events together, such as the visit to see the Queen in Balmoral planned for early September.

But will she attend the G7 summit?

Spouses and partners are not an uncommon sight at the G7 summit.

For instance, Melania Trump joined her husband US President Donald Trump at his first G7 trip to Italy, where she joined the spouses of the other G7 leaders at public events.

Mr Johnson’s predecessor Theresa May attended the Canadian G7 summit in June 2018 with her husband Philip May.

However, it was reported Carrie was previously not planning to attend the G7 summit due to work commitments.

Earlier this week, it emerged that Carrie had planned a trip to the US, but her request to visit was barred by American authorities.

Why was Carrie Symonds barred from the US?

According to the Daily Mail Ms Symonds applied for permission to visit the US over the next few days as part of her job with environmental group Oceana, but her request was denied.

It is believed the issue with Ms Symonds’ travel plans is linked to a trip she undertook to Somaliland last year with her friend Nimco Ali, a campaigner against female genital mutilation.

The US does not recognise Somaliland as an independent country, instead viewing it as part of Somalia.

Applicants under the electronic system for travel authorisation (Esta) visa waiver programme, which enables Britons to visit the US for up to 90 days, are asked whether they have visited Somalia since March 2011.

Her recent travel troubles could prove embarrassing for Mr Johnson today as he sits down with the US President at the G7 summit.

Especially, if given she is no longer able to visit the US for work, she may instead choose to attend the G7 summit with Boris Johnson.

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