Distraction from “Partygate”?
Johnson wants to bring back the pound and ounce
05/29/2022, 3:10 p.m
As an EU member, Great Britain still has to provide information in grams and kilograms. After Brexit, Prime Minister Johnson now wants to bring back imperial units of measure such as pounds and ounces. Critics see a “pathetic attempt” to distract from the “Partygate” investigation report with a policy of nostalgia.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants to use his country’s post-Brexit freedoms to give new meaning to imperial units of measurement like the ounce. Just in time for the Queen’s throne jubilee next weekend, Johnson wants to start a public consultation process on how units such as pounds, ounces or yards can be used again in the future, several British media reported.
Since the year 2000, Great Britain, as a then EU member, has had to enter grams and kilograms in retail. However, British traders can also enter pounds and ounces. According to the new plans, which were initially reported by the “Sunday Mirror”, dealers should in future be free to choose what they specify. Months ago, the conservative government had already announced that it wanted to allow the “crown stamp” as a correct calibration on beer glasses and champagne bottles in pint format.
The main opposition party, Labor, accused the government of a “pathetic attempt” to pursue a policy of nostalgia. Instead, it is better to focus on more pressing issues. Observers see Johnson’s new initiative as an attempt to appease critics in their own ranks and to dissuade them from the reputation-damaging debate about the “Partygate” investigation report. He had accused Downing Street of leadership failure and serious rule violations last week.
Over the weekend, two other Conservative MPs revealed they had voted no confidence in Johnson in a letter. If the responsible committee receives at least 54 of these letters, there is a vote of no confidence. The BBC and the PA news agency reported around 20 letters had been sent so far. However, more could have been received without this becoming public knowledge.