Opinion
Johnson rocked by new Downing Street lockdown party allegation
Boris Johnson’s premiership was plunged deeper into disaster on Monday after it emerged that he had a celebration throughout England’s first lockdown in 2020, regardless of Covid guidelines on the time banning indoor social gatherings.
Johnson has persistently denied information of events in Downing Road, however he attended a shock get-together within the cupboard room to have fun his birthday in June of that 12 months, together with as much as 30 company.
The disclosure of the Downing Road celebration, first reported by ITV Information and confirmed by the FT, will gas issues amongst Tory MPs that the prime minister disregarded Covid guidelines that he imposed on the remainder of England.
When the gathering passed off pubs, eating places, hairdressers and non-essential retailers have been closed, whereas out of doors gatherings have been restricted to the rule of six. Faculties additionally remained closed to most pupils.
“It’s demise by a thousand cuts,” stated one former cupboard minister. “For many who haven’t made their thoughts up that is absolutely the straw that breaks the camel’s again,” stated Andrew Bridgen, one among seven Tory MPs to publicly demand that Johnson quits.
One senior Tory stated it was “inevitable” extra MPs would demand a no-confidence vote in Johnson by submitting letters to Sir Graham Brady, chair of the 1922 committee of backbench Conservative MPs. A member of the 1922 govt stated the most recent revelations have been “deadly”.
The account of the most recent occasion comes as Sue Grey, a senior civil servant, finalises her report into alleged events in Downing Road throughout Covid lockdowns.
That report is due out later this week. One particular person briefed on the Grey inquiry stated she was already conscious of the allegations about Johnson’s celebration and they’d not additional delay her inquiry.
Sir Keir Starmer, Labour chief, stated: “We can not afford to go on with this chaotic, rudderless authorities. The prime minister is a nationwide distraction and he’s received to go.”
Johnson’s birthday get-together was attended by Downing Road workers. Lulu Lytle, designer of the redecoration of the prime minister’s Downing Road flat, was additionally there.
A spokesperson for Lytle confirmed she was current in Downing Road on June 19 “engaged on the refurbishment” of Johnson’s flat. “Lulu was not invited to any birthday celebrations for the prime minister as a visitor. Lulu entered the cupboard room briefly as requested, whereas ready to talk with the prime minister.”
Downing Road stated the prime minister attended for lower than ten minutes, whereas these on the gathering ate picnic meals.
“A gaggle of workers working in Quantity 10 that day gathered briefly within the cupboard room after a gathering to want the prime minister pleased birthday,” a spokesman stated.
Johnson’s supporters tried to minimize the occasion. “So, when folks in an workplace purchase a cake in the midst of the afternoon for another person they’re working within the workplace with and cease for ten minutes to sing pleased birthday after which return to their desks, that is now known as a celebration?” tweeted Nadine Dorries, tradition secretary.
Johnson’s supporters consider the prime minister is being focused in a sequence of orchestrated leaks. Dominic Cummings, his former chief adviser, is main the requires him to stop.
Some Tory MPs consider Johnson could obtain a brief reprieve from an unlikely supply: the Kremlin. “If you happen to take a look at what’s occurring in Ukraine, I don’t assume now’s the time for a management contest,” stated one Tory MP.
Johnson raised the rhetoric on Monday by warning that Russia was planning “a lightning warfare that might take out Kyiv”. Defence officers briefed a gaggle of round 100 MPs from all events on Monday concerning the menace.
James Grey, a veteran Tory MP, stated the celebration may rally across the prime minister within the occasion of a battle in Ukraine, simply as they’d final week after Tory MP Christian Wakeford defected to Labour.
“So what do Christian Wakeford and Vladimir Putin have in frequent?” he requested in a publication. “They might each be the very saviour which Boris Johnson wants.”
Nevertheless David Davis, former Brexit secretary, famous that the Conservative celebration had ditched its chief — Neville Chamberlain — in 1940. The celebration additionally ousted Margaret Thatcher in 1990 forward of the primary Gulf warfare.
