Wednesday January 12, 2022
Celebration during lockdown
Johnson admits visiting garden party – and apologizes
The British Prime Minister apologizes: In front of the members of Parliament, Boris Johnson admits to having attended a garden party in his official residence during the lockdown. That is not enough for the opposition – they are demanding his resignation.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologized “heartily” after a garden party at his official residence during the first Corona lockdown. He understands popular anger over the celebration, Johnson said in parliament. The Prime Minister admitted to the MPs that he attended the meeting on May 20, 2020.
He had come to the garden of his official residence on Downing Street to thank employees and believed it was a working meeting under the applicable pandemic rules. After about 25 minutes he went back to his office. In retrospect, Johnson admitted he should have acted differently.
Labor leader Keir Starmer accused Johnson of offending the population with this statement. He called on the prime minister to resign. Even in the run-up to the questioning in parliament, the pressure on Johnson had grown steadily. He was caught in the crossfire of several media outlets. For example, even the conservative Telegraph, which is usually close to the government, had headlined: “Johnson is losing support from the Tories”.
Recently, new details about a party on Downing Street had become known. The head of government and his wife Carrie Johnson attended a meeting in the garden of his official residence with 30 to 40 employees in May 2020, reported the broadcasters ITV and Sky News. At that time, according to Corona rules in England, only two people from different households were allowed to meet outdoors.