DBritish Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s staff were reportedly holding lockdown parties in Downing Street on the eve of Queen consort Prince Philip’s funeral in April 2021. The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported on Thursday evening, citing eyewitnesses, that it was about the farewell of two of the prime minister’s confidants. Johnson himself was therefore not present. The newspaper wrote that Downing Street had not denied the reports.
Strict distance rules were in force in mid-April 2021, members of different households were not allowed to meet in closed rooms. The newspaper emphasized that Queen Elizabeth II (95) had to sit all alone in the chapel the next day at her husband’s funeral because of the Corona rules.
A DJ, dancing and lots of alcohol
The Telegraph reported that there was a lot of drinking and dancing at the parties. An advisor to Johnson was temporarily responsible for the music. Alcoholic supplies were brought in a suitcase from a nearby supermarket. A participant used his son’s swing in the garden of Johnson’s official residence and broke it. A total of around 30 people are said to have taken part in the two initially separate events, which would have mixed up around midnight.
Johnson has been heavily criticized for multiple alleged lockdown parties at Downing Street in May and December 2020. The opposition and some Tory MPs are calling for his resignation. The prime minister only apologized on Wednesday. This is now the first known incident from 2021. Commentators pointed out that the funeral of the Queen consort was so close in time. Johnson had asked to await the outcome of an ongoing internal investigation.