BOris Johnson hasn’t finished hearing regarding “partygate”. The British Prime Minister, in turmoil because of parties organized in Downing Street when the country was subject to heavy restrictions (including a ban on gatherings), is doing everything to defend his position. On Wednesday January 26, he faced criticism from the opposition, while his place as Prime Minister was suspended on the publication of a potentially explosive report on these famous parties which took place during the confinements.
Westminster is in the throes of a veritable war of nerves pending the conclusions of an internal investigation by senior civil servant Sue Gray into various garden parties, farewell parties or birthday parties in the circles of power. These gatherings shocked the British, forced by law, at the time, to drastically restrict their contacts.
After a day of speculation and contradictory information on when this report will be published, the British press estimates that it might happen as early as Wednesday or Thursday, without any assurance.
Boris Johnson called a ‘liar’
Accused of lies and called for resignation during his weekly explanation session before the deputies, the 57-year-old Conservative leader refused to comment on the ongoing investigation and rejected any departure. He assured to focus on the economic recovery or the crisis in Ukraine, raising his voice in a stormy atmosphere.
Labor leader Keir Starmer accused him of “despising” the country and Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle repeatedly had to intervene to maintain calm, reprimanding a Labor MP for calling Boris Johnson of “liar”.
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Adding to the tension, the police also took up the case, announcing on Tuesday that they were investigating several “events” in order to establish whether there were “potential violations of the rules related to Covid-19”, liable to fines. Even within Boris Johnson’s conservative majority, anger is brewing. If he has so far escaped a vote of no confidence, which can be triggered at the request of 54 (out of 359) deputies from his camp, Boris Johnson remains in a very delicate position.
Some have already publicly called for his departure. Other slingers are waiting for the publication of Sue Gray’s report to decide whether or not to try to oust their leader. It remains to be seen whether it will be published in full, photos, messages and testimonials, or in a lighter version.
“Mistakes Made”
In front of MPs, Boris Johnson welcomed the opening of the police investigation on Tuesday, hoping that it “will give the public the clarity they need and help put these questions behind us”. According to his spokesperson, he will “cooperate fully” with these investigations. They plunge him into a turmoil never seen since his triumphant accession to power in the summer of 2019, with plummeting popularity and openly hostile majority deputies. Hoping to bounce back, the Prime Minister announced the lifting of the last Covid-related restrictions from Thursday, hoping to regain the favor of public opinion in a country subject to long confinements and greatly bereaved by the pandemic, which has caused more than 154,000 dead.
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But regularly, new revelations come to overwhelm the leader. Latest: a party organized by his future wife Carrie in the hall of the council of ministers on the occasion of his birthday on June 19, 2020 followingnoon, during the first confinement. According to ITV, up to 30 people took part. A news difficult to digest for the British, who had complied with the rules. Queen Elizabeth II herself celebrated her 94e birthday in discretion, April 21, 2020, without his family. “The Prime Minister has apologized for what happened. He said that mistakes had been made, ”defended his Foreign Minister Liz Truss on SkyNews on Wednesday. The head of diplomacy added that it would not take long to know the conclusions of the report by Sue Gray.