London (England) – For Boris Johnson it is a nightmare before Christmas: Close employees have obviously broken the corona rules. The British prime minister had denied that for days. How uncomfortable is it now for Johnson?
They are said to have celebrated when hundreds died and millions were not allowed to see their loved ones – and days later they joked in front of the camera about the blatant breach of the rules:
The explosive Video from Downing Street about a suspected Christmas party by government officials during the Corona lockdown a year ago is now putting British Prime Minister Boris Johnson under considerable pressure. It says in the room that Johnson, who did not attend the party, lied about the event.
One after the other: A few days ago the newspaper “Daily Mirror” reported that 40 to 50 employees celebrated closely over wine and appetizers in the government seat on December 18, 2020, that it had been weighted. The problem: Back then, there were strict contact restrictions, parties and gatherings were forbidden!
The process was confirmed by several media outlets. The government did not deny the event, but has since emphasized that no corona rules had been violated. Johnson also stood in front of his employees.
But now the broadcaster ITV has published the video, which was recorded a few days later, on December 22, 2020, in Downing Street. In the lead role: Johnson’s then spokeswoman Allegra Stratton, who is rehearsing for a press conference. An employee jokingly asks Stratton after a party on Downing Street, and those present joke about “wine and cheese”. “This fictional party was a business meeting and there were no social distance rules,” says Stratton with a laugh.
The echo is devastating! Not only the opposition is outraged, the parliamentary group leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), Ian Blackford, is already calling for Johnson’s resignation. ITV presenter Tom Bradby to his audience of millions: “You are laughing at us. You, me, all of us. “
On Wednesday afternoon, Allegra Stratton announced her resignation and apologized for her remarks. Most recently she was the British government’s spokesperson for the UN climate conferences.
Worst of all Johnson is likely to hit the sharp criticism from the ranks of his Conservative Party. Looking at other affairs that had left Johnson with surprisingly no trace, a senior Tory told the BBC that the prime minister apparently thinks rules don’t apply to his pals.
“People who have been prevented by the government from seeing their dying relatives and friends again will feel completely pissed off.”
On December 18, 2020, the government reported 514 corona deaths in one day.
UK health care officials share this view. Matthew Taylor, a senior manager in the NHS health service, speaks of a hard blow to morale. It will be much more difficult for people to adhere to rules if decision-makers do not follow them themselves, Taylor told Sky News. This is currently all the more devastating as the omicron variant of the coronavirus is spreading rapidly in the UK.
On Tuesday evening, Downing Street said: “There was no Christmas party. Covid rules were followed at all times. ”However, the cabinet’s reaction is indicative: Normally, every day a member of the government can be asked about current topics in the morning programs of the most important TV and radio stations. Not so on Wednesday. Health Minister Sajid Javid canceled at short notice. This indicates that there is a considerable need for coordination within the government.
Johnson is currently even considering, contrary to his earlier announcement, to require vaccination certificates for attending major events.
The current government of Great Britain had already been criticized several times for its handling of the corona restrictions. Health Secretary Matt Hancock was forced to resign in May. The picture from a surveillance camera showed Hancock kissing an employee in his ministry – when there were strict contact restrictions in England.
Not the only scandal
The Christmas party in the middle of lockdown isn’t the only trouble for the British prime minister right now. Several media outlets report that Johnson and his wife Carrie Johnson campaigned for dozens of cats and dogs to be flown out of a British veteran’s shelter during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan – at the expense of British citizens and Afghan workers.
Johnson rejected this indignantly. A Letter from his assistant, Trudy Harrison seems to confirm the reports.
Much fuel for Johnson, who will traditionally face the questions of Parliament on Wednesday lunchtime …
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