According to the media outlet, he made the comment at the inaugural meeting of the "build back better council," comprised of leaders of 30 major companies such as GlaxoSmithKline plc, British Airways, and HSBC Holdings plc.
The supposed aim of the meeting was to mend the government's relationship with the business sector and to stress that Downing Street's focus is firmly on restarting the economy and on cooperation with business leaders.
In addition to Johnson, other cabinet members who attended the meeting were Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Kwasi Kwarteng, Secretary of State for International Trade Liz Truss, and vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi.