“Partygate” in the United Kingdom: Downing Street apologizes to the Queen

A farewell drink in full confinement and a few hours from Prince Philip’s funeral: the new revelations about the turbulent evenings at 10 Downing Street are causing controversy in the United Kingdom. And bring Boris Johnson closer to the exit. In the meantime, his cabinet had no other option than to apologize on Friday.

“It is deeply regrettable that this took place at a time of national mourning and 10 (Downing Street) has issued an apology to the Palace“, said a spokesperson for Boris Johnson. These apologies sent through the official channel are particularly humiliating for the Conservative leader, now openly criticized in his majority and facing his worst crisis since coming to power.

A crisis that finds its source in the revelations behind the scenes of power in the midst of a pandemic. Until the early morning of April 17, 2021, Downing Street collaborators – without the Prime Minister – celebrated the departure of two members of the team, according to The Telegraph, communications director James Slack, since deputy editor of the tabloid The Sun, and a personal photographer of Boris Johnson.

The partygoers, about thirty, had joined in the gardens of the official residence, according to the daily close to the power. A person had been sent to a supermarket to buy bottles of wine which they brought back to Downing Street in a suitcase, he said. In a press release, James Slack also apologized “without reservation for the anger and pain caused”.

Boris Johnson, 57, was not present and was, according to a spokesman quoted by the Telegram, at Chequers, the country residence of British heads of government. But these new revelations add to an already long list of parties organized in circles of power during periods of confinement. And further sink the Conservative leader who, in the event of Covid contact, has not been seen in public since his mea culpa on Wednesday in Parliament for his presence at one of these parties in May 2020. Now very weak in the polls, that he flew over for a long time after his triumphant arrival in power in July 2019, he is now fighting to remain at the head of the government.