“Expect better from PM”: Johnson apologizes again for “Partygate”

“Expect better from the prime minister”
Johnson apologizes again for ‘Partygate’

For the British prime minister, the “Partygate” affair is getting hot again. Should MPs decide that Johnson deliberately misled them when he denied ever breaking the rules, a resignation bid will follow. He tries his hand at damage control again.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has again asked for forgiveness in the “Partygate” affair. The British public can rightly “expect something better from their prime minister,” said the head of government in his first parliamentary speech since a fine was imposed on him about a week ago in the affair of illegal celebrations in Corona times. The opposition reiterated their demands for his resignation. Johnson, on the other hand, emphasized that he did not assume at the time that he was doing anything wrong. “It was my fault and I apologize unreservedly for it.” At the same time, he said that he wanted to remain in office mainly because of the current Russian war of aggression in Ukraine.

In mid-April, the police imposed fines on Johnson, his wife Carrie and his finance minister Rishi Sunak for violating the corona requirements. The opposition then called for Johnson’s resignation, which he refused. Scotland Yard had started investigations into several parties at the seat of government during the Corona curfews in 2020 and 2021. Johnson himself was present at some of the celebrations, eventually admitting it and apologizing. Scotland Yard’s investigation is ongoing, however, and Johnson faces possible further fines.

On Thursday, MPs are set to hold a separate debate on whether Johnson misled the House of Commons when he denied ever breaking the rules in December. Knowingly misleading Parliament is a violation of the government’s code of conduct and is usually punishable by resignation. When asked directly whether he had deliberately misled Parliament, the Prime Minister emphatically denied.

Johnson is no longer “worthy” of his post

Opposition leader Keir Starmer again called for Johnson’s resignation. Support for Ukraine in Parliament is bipartisan and any successor to the Conservatives could continue Johnson’s policies in this area, the Labor leader said. He called on Tory MPs to ensure that “decency, honesty and integrity” return to British politics. Influential representative of Johnson’s own Conservative party, Mark Harper, said the prime minister was no longer “worthy” of his office.

Johnson was under immense pressure earlier this year because of the scandal surrounding the celebrations with plenty of alcohol at his official residence during the corona lockdown. With the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the pressure eased somewhat as the international crisis pushed the “Partygate” affair out of the headlines. In a nationwide survey, however, around two-thirds of those surveyed made negative comments about Johnson, while only 16 percent made positive comments. “Liar” was the most frequently chosen negative term.

The bottom line is that people’s anger at “Partygate” hasn’t subsided, commented conservative pollster James Johnson, who was behind the poll. Many of the negative comments also came from “people who used to like Johnson but have now changed their minds.”

source site-34