The British prime minister’s staff even bought a refrigerator to store drinks for their “Wine-time Fridays”. The “Mirror” reports that the meetings in the middle of the lockdown took place weekly.
Trouble at Downing Street: Prime Minister Boris Johnson is under pressure for parties in the middle of the lockdown.
(dpa) New allegations of breaking corona rules in his seat of government are putting even more pressure on British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the “Partygate” affair. According to a media report, during the pandemic there were not just isolated, but regular gatherings in Downing Street where alcohol was drunk. This is what the “Mirror”, which is usually well informed in the matter, writes on Saturday.
White wine, Prosecco and beer
Johnson’s employees met every Friday for “Wine-time Fridays”, the Prime Minister encouraged them to “let off steam” – even if indoor meetings were strictly prohibited under the lockdown rules. The head of government had visited these meetings several times himself. The employees bought an office refrigerator especially for the regular meetings to keep their bottles of white wine, Prosecco and beer cool.
Friday meetings have long been a Downing Street tradition, including under previous British governments, according to the Mirror. However, the meetings continued even after corona restrictions were imposed.
Johnson has been under massive pressure in the “Partygate” affair for a long time, and several members of his Tory party have already called for his resignation. He wants to get out of trouble politically with a comprehensive restart. Internal investigations are currently underway into the lockdown parties in his seat of government, and the prime minister wants to wait for the results.
It was recently reported that there were celebrations at the seat of government on the eve of Queen Consort Prince Philip’s funeral in April 2021. At that time, strict contact and distance rules applied. Queen Elizabeth II therefore had to sit all alone in the chapel of her Windsor residence when her husband was buried. Downing Street apologized for this. “It is deeply unfortunate that this has taken place at a time of national mourning,” a spokesman for Johnson said.
No longer able to rule
British opposition leader Keir Starmer has denied Prime Minister Boris Johnson the ability to govern in the face of the escalating “Partygate” affair. It is now in the “national interest” for Johnson to resign, the leader of the opposition Labor Party said at a conference in London on Saturday. He called on the prime minister’s conservative Tory party to do what was necessary and get rid of Johnson.
“What we have now is a situation where you have a prime minister who has lost the moral authority to lead,” Starmer said. This authority is needed right now in the pandemic. Britain faces other major challenges – and Johnson is “absent” and in hiding, according to the Labor leader.