A photo of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, Supposedly during the controversial Christmas party in Downing Street in December last year, when the whole country was locked up and social gatherings were banned by the pandemic, it has reactivated the controversy that has been weighing on the British ‘premier’ since last week.
The image has been published by the British tabloid ‘Sunday Mirror’ this Sunday and in it Johnson is seen, without respecting the measures of social distance or meeting indoors, sitting under a portrait of Margaret Thatcher and, in principle, participating in a game with some of his collaborators.
The prime minister reportedly held a video call with some of his employees in which various sources claim to have seen at 10 Downing Street -the prime minister’s official residence- a a group of people drinking, without maintaining social distance, at a time when meetings were prohibited, except between partners.
At the event, held on December 15 last year, there were four teams, each consisting of six people. A government spokesman has confirmed the celebration of the event, although he has highlighted that the British prime minister only participated “momentarily”, as published by the British newspaper.
Johnson defends that the standards were met
Johnson said last week that “the rules were followed at all times. I am convinced that the guidelines were followed at all times“This virtual party would have occurred just three days after another event held on December 18, 2020 that is being investigated by the cabinet secretary, Simon Case.
UK Labor Party Deputy Leader Angela Rayner has said that “while the rules said people should not have Christmas parties at work,” Britain’s Prime Minister “I was delighted to lead the culture of disregard for standards in the heart of government.”, according to the DPA news agency.
In addition, he stressed that, despite the denial of the “numerous” parties held at number 10, “it is now clear that there have been meetings and even the prime minister has participated in a festive contest.”
The party sinks Johnson in the polls
Support for the Conservatives has fallen to the lowest level in 11 months, following the announcement of new restrictions due to COVID-19 and the continuing controversy over the holiday party, according to a poll published Friday of voting intention.
The query, made by the YouGov firm for the newspaper “The Times”, indicates that support for the “Tories” has fallen three points compared to the previous month to stand at the 33%, while Keir Starmer’s Labor they rose four points to 37%.
According to the survey – taken between December 8 and 9 among 1,686 adults -, those consulted they questioned Johnson’s integrity for the Christmas party. To all this is added the dissatisfaction of several conservative deputies for the imposition of new anti-COVID measures, such as the mandatory use of masks in closed places and a vaccination pass to enter shows or events with a large audience.
According to the media, the head of the Government faces a rebellion in the ranks “Tories” since about 50 parliamentarians from their formation can vote against of the new restrictions when they are debated and voted next Tuesday in the House of Commons. The newspaper “The Times” affirms that the number of rebel deputies can even reach one hundred.
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.
