Prime Minister Boris Johnson is in a mess over a Christmas party on Downing Street.
(Photo: Reuters)
London Hardly any head of government is as scandal-tested as Boris Johnson. So far, the British prime minister has sat out every storm of protest. However, a Christmas party now puts him in acute need of explanation.
A year ago dozens of government employees apparently drank alcohol on Downing Street, exchanged pixies and put on funny Christmas sweaters – which is what you do on such occasions. Johnson’s problem: At that time, there were strict corona contact restrictions, and any Christmas party was prohibited.
The Prime Minister has been on the defensive since the Daily Mirror revealed the obvious breach of the rules a week ago. The timing couldn’t be worse, because it’s the run-up to Christmas again and a lockdown threatens again.
Even if the violations were a year ago, a small Christmas party in Corona times can quickly turn into a state affair. Above all, the episode reminds the British that Johnson is not so strict about the rules and lies to the public when in doubt.
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The government initially denied for days that there had been a party. All the rules are obeyed on Downing Street, said the prime minister. On Tuesday, however, an internal video emerged which showed leading government employees shortly after the said Christmas party at a rehearsal in the new press conference room.
Johnson’s change of strategy: first deny everything, then investigate
Johnson’s then spokeswoman and an advisor ran the case through how to respond to journalists’ questions about the banned party. There was a lot of laughter.
The tabloid “Daily Mail” spoke of a “sick joke”, indignant Tories distanced themselves from their prime minister. Johnson quickly changed his strategy. He apologized in parliament on Wednesday, claiming he was “just as angry” as the rest of the country about the video.
His head of cabinet will now initiate an investigation. If it turns out that the rules have been violated, “there will be disciplinary consequences for everyone involved”.
Whether this attempt at forward defense will settle the matter is more than questionable. It is usually not a good idea to put the blame on subordinates. More evidence may eventually emerge.
The opposition was happy about the unexpected gift. “Last week he told us there was no party,” said opposition leader Keir Starmer. “Now he thinks there is something to investigate.” On top of that, Johnson’s former chief advisor Dominic Cummings reported on Twitter and snappy asked if the other lockdown parties that had taken place in Johnson’s office at the time were also being investigated.
Doubts about the prime minister also grow in their own party
The fact that Cummings of all people is now denouncing rule violations in the Johnson household is not without a certain irony. After all, last year he drove across the country in the middle of lockdown despite a positive corona test.
Johnson is betting that the excitement will subside like it did back then. He said in parliament that he was concentrating on the fight against the Omikron variant while the opposition was playing political games.
However, the scandals are now so increasing that doubts about Johnson are growing even within their own party. Conservative MP Tracey Crouch spoke for many: “My constituents have every right to be angry. I’m not even going to start defending this Downing Street celebration. ”
More: Because of the Omikron variant: Great Britain tightened entry rules