(London) Cornered, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday admitted to MPs his presence at a party in Downing Street in full confinement in 2020 and presented his “apologies”, without convincing the opposition, which is asking for his resignation.
Posted at 6:29 am
Updated at 8:17 a.m.
In an overheated House of Commons, the leader of the Conservative government maintained that he believed that the event of May 20, 2020 in the gardens of his official residence was a working meeting.
At that time, in the midst of the first wave of COVID-19, only two people were allowed to be outside and many Britons were unable to say goodbye to their dying loved ones, hence the extent of the anger caused by this event to which more than 100 people would have been invited with instructions to bring a drink.
Boris Johnson explained that he should have considered that if the event could “technically” be considered as being within the rules, the perception of the British, prevented from meeting their relatives, could be quite different. “I apologize from the bottom of my heart,” he said.
He claimed to take “responsibility” for the “mistakes” that were made.
Accusing Boris Johnson of “lying like a tooth puller”, Labor opposition leader Keir Starmer has deemed the Prime Minister’s defense “so ridiculous” that it is “insulting” to the British. “Will he now have the decency to resign?” He said.
The Scottish separatists of the SNP and the Liberal Democrats have also called for his departure.
On this point, Boris Johnson referred to the internal investigation led by senior official Sue Gray.
Two years after his historic electoral victory, Boris Johnson has seen his popularity, long stainless, drop in recent months.
Faced with a series of revelations at the end of last year on parties organized in circles of power in defiance of health rules to fight against the coronavirus in 2020, he has seen the accusations tighten in recent days.
The ITV channel revealed Monday evening the existence of an email sent to a hundred people by the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, Martin Reynolds, on May 20, 2020. “Bring your bottles”, launched the invitation which called for “Take advantage of the good weather” during a drink “with social distancing” in the gardens of the residence of the Prime Minister.
About thirty or forty people had responded to the invitation, according to the press, including the head of government and his fiancée Carrie whom he married shortly after.
Anger is growing louder within the ranks of the ruling Conservative Party, with party leader in Scotland, Douglas Ross, calling for a resignation if Boris Johnson is found to have broken the rules. According to the media, some believe that the question is no longer whether Boris Johnson will have to step down from power, but when.
Calls for resignation
“Johnson loses Tory support,” the conservative Daily Telegraph headlined Wednesday, while the popular Daily Mail wonders if “the party is over for the Prime Minister”.
In addition to the holidays, his reputation has been tarnished by suspicion of lying about the financing of the luxurious renovation of his company apartment, the awarding of contracts between friends during the pandemic or even accusations of favoritism.
If he continues to refuse to leave, a vote of no confidence within the party, requiring 54 letters to be triggered, would be enough to overthrow him. Unlikely in the immediate future, this option is however no longer taboo among the conservatives, reluctant to bother with leaders in turmoil and who could prefer the Minister of Finance Rishi Sunak or the head of diplomacy Liz Truss.
If this crisis around respect for the rules appears to be the most serious for Boris Johnson, it is far from being the first.
He has already been confronted with the storms caused by the displacement through England in full confinement of his ex-adviser Dominic Cummings and his ex-Minister of Health Matt Hancock had to resign after being filmed kissing a collaborator, in defiance of the anti-COVID-19 rules.
The illegal parties that embarrass Boris Johnson
Christmas party, departure drink, wines and cheeses in the sun… The government of Boris Johnson and the circles of power are singled out for a dozen celebrations organized in the midst of the pandemic when the British had to drastically reduce their contacts.
May 15, 2020
A photo published in the press shows the Prime Minister, his wife Carrie (then his fiancée) and collaborators sharing boards of cheese and glasses of wine in the Downing Street garden. While such moments of sociability were prohibited during the first confinement, Boris Johnson spoke of “people at work, talking about work”.
May 20, 2020
A hundred people are invited, in an email sent by Boris Johnson’s chief private secretary, Martin Reynolds, to come “enjoy the good weather” for a drink “with social distancing” in the gardens of the Prime Minister’s residence. The British could then legally meet only one person outside, in a public place. About forty people would have finally participated, including Boris Johnson and Carrie. The leader did not comment.
November 13, 2020
Media report a party with collaborators in Boris Johnson’s official apartment. The leader assures us that “the rules have always been respected”. A second confinement was then underway in the United Kingdom.
November 27, 2020
A farewell party was reportedly organized for a collaborator at 10 Downing Street, during which Mr Johnson allegedly made a speech despite the confinement. About fifty were found massed in a room.
December 10, 2020
The Ministry of Education confirmed the holding of a party where about twenty people had gathered on December 10 around a few “glasses and canapes”. After the lockdown, restrictions were then in place in London that prohibited different homes from meeting inside.
December 14, 2020
After a photo was published to the press, the Conservative Party admitted to an unauthorized party at its London headquarters, organized by the team of then-London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey. The latter has since resigned as chairman of the police and crime committee of the assembly of the British capital.
December 15, 2020
the Sunday mirror publishes a photo of the Prime Minister, flanked by two collaborators, participating in an online trivia game. Downing Street admitted that the leader had “briefly” participated in the event, stressing that it was virtual.
December 16, 2020
The Ministry of Transport has apologized for an “inappropriate” Christmas party held at its premises.
December 18, 2020
A Boris Johnson adviser resigned after joking in a video that went viral about a party that was said to have gathered around 40 people that day in Downing Street. Saying “furious”, the Prime Minister affirmed that he had been “assured several times” since the beginning of the affair that “there had been no party” and that “no rule” had not been violated.
Other breaches of anti-COVID-19 rules
Former influential adviser to Boris Johnson and mastermind of the victorious Brexit campaign, Dominic Cummings admitted in spring 2020 to having violated anti-COVID-19 rules by traveling with his family in full confinement, which was prohibited. Last June, Health Minister Matt Hancock resigned for breaking health rules by having an affair with a counselor.