The British prime minister is coming under increasing pressure.
(Photo: AP)
London London police have launched an investigation into the parties being held at British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s official residence despite the lockdown. The chief of the Metropolitan Police, Cressida Dick, announced on Tuesday.
If the officials find violations of the Corona rules in force at the time, the head of government and his employees face severe fines. The political costs for Johnson are even higher: a vote of no confidence in the conservative faction is becoming increasingly likely.
The police only took action after an internal government investigation appeared to uncover enough evidence of rule violations. Secretary of State Sue Gray has been reviewing more than a dozen celebrations that took place during the spring and winter 2020 and spring 2021 lockdowns since December. She passed her findings on to the police. Her report, which was expected this week, is now being postponed pending the conclusion of the police investigation.
Critics of the Metropolitan Police question why officers stationed outside Downing Street didn’t put a stop to the parties then. After all, the government headquarters is guarded around the clock.
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Since December, more and more celebrations have become known. The latest revelation: With cake, serenade and 30 guests, Johnson is said to have celebrated his 56th birthday in the middle of lockdown in June 2020.
According to broadcaster ITV, Johnson’s wife Carrie had organized a surprise party for the Conservative politician at Downing Street. Most of the employees were present, but also the designer Lulu Lytle, who was spending a lot of money renovating the Johnsons’ official apartment. Carrie Johnson is said to have started the song “Happy Birthday”.
In the evening he is said to have received guests in his official apartment in the same building, including his sister.
Private indoor meetings were not allowed at the time. Millions of Britons remember that their children were not allowed to celebrate their birthday with friends.
Opposition reiterates call for resignation
A government spokeswoman did not dispute the ITV report but did not interpret the gathering as a party but rather as a brief gathering of staff after a meeting to congratulate the prime minister.
Johnson was there for less than ten minutes. The event only lasted 20 to 30 minutes. The spokeswoman rejected the report about guests in the official apartment as “completely untrue”. Johnson only received a small group of family members outdoors.
Designer Lytle said she was only in Downing Street to work and was waiting to speak to Johnson outside the room where the party was said to be.
Labor leader Keir Starmer has slammed the government as “chaotic and rudderless” and has repeatedly called for Johnson’s resignation. “He has to go,” Starmer affirmed.
However, Johnson is not expected to leave voluntarily. But the growing resentment in his own party could become dangerous for him. The head of the conservative Tory party is facing a coalition of different camps. If 54 members of his parliamentary group in the House of Commons write in favor of a change, there would be a vote of no confidence.
Things were already looking dicey for the prime minister last week. He had admitted to attending a garden party at his official residence in May 2020 but claimed to have mistook it for a work meeting. His private secretary invited them in an e-mail with the note “bring your own alcohol”. However, Johnson claims to have seen neither the email nor the warnings in advance that it was a breach of the rules.
With a defiant appearance at Question Time in Parliament last Wednesday, Johnson was able to regain some breathing space. But whether he will succeed again is doubtful.
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