British Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologized on Wednesday for a leaked video in which his team jokes about a party held in Downing Street a year ago, amid restrictions due to the pandemic, and announced an internal investigation, although he insisted. in which the celebration did not take place and the rules were followed. In the weekly session of questions to the prime minister in the House of Commons (down), Johnson said he was “enraged” when he saw the video. leaked to the ITV channel and said he “understands” the anger unleashed in society by the images.
“I unreservedly apologize for the pain that (the video) has caused throughout the country and for the impression it makes, but I repeat that I have been repeatedly assured that there was no party and that COVID rules were not broken“he said. The video shows a mock press conference between senior officials in Johnson’s office, in which his then-spokeswoman, Allegra Stratton, can barely contain a laugh when asked by one of them whether he acknowledged that there had been a party in Downing Street on December 18, 2020.
“I went home …”, laughs Stratton.. The official insists and asks if the prime minister approves the celebration of Christmas parties at the headquarters of the Executive, to which the spokesperson replies: “And what do I answer to that?” The prime minister, in his tense face-to-face today with the opposition leader, Keir Starmer, announced that he has asked the cabinet secretary to open an investigation into the alleged celebration – in which, according to the press, between 40 and 50 people participated. – and if the anti-COVID rules were broken, in which case there will be “disciplinary actions”.
“There will be consequences for those involved if the rules are broken,” said the prime minister, before insisting that his collaborators have reiterated that the spree did not take place. The truth is that the leak of this drill shows a year later that Downing Street staff broke the anti-COVID rules last December to celebrate Christmas. Two days before, London had entered level 3 alert against the coronavirus: indoor gatherings were completely forbidden.
According to the ‘Daily Mirror’, this was not the only time that Johnson’s team broke the rules. In November of last year, when the entire country lived its second confinement, there was another celebration where an employee was fired. The Prime Minister himself participated in it. Now, following the broadcast of this video, the London police have announced that they are reviewing if there was any violation of the anti-COVID regulations in the headquarters of the government.
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
