London: British Prime Minister boris johnson He apologized after a video surfaced of senior aides mocking a Christmas party in Downing Street last year and his adviser resigned on Wednesday after social events were banned under COVID-19 rules.
The leaked footage appears to contradict Johnson and his ministers for more than a week after the newspaper reported that dozens of employees attended an evening gathering on December 18, 2020.
The leader, who is facing demands for the resignation of some opposition leaders during the parliamentary question session, said “disciplinary action” would be taken if rules were found to be violated in the probe.
“I understand and share the anger of the country’s top and bottom when Number 10 employees shine a light on the lockdown measures,” he said.
“I apologize unreservedly for the offense he has committed … and I apologize for the impression it gives.”
Johnson said he was “repeatedly assured” that there were no parties inside his No. 10 Downing Street office and that no rules had been broken.
Johnson’s advisor allegra stratton, a former political journalist who served as his press secretary at the time the footage was recorded, swiftly tendered his resignation.
Footage shows she jokingly referring to a “fantasy party” while preparing for a press conference.
In a tearful statement, Stratton acknowledged her comments “seemed to lighten the rules” and said she would “regret those comments for the rest of my day”.
She did not clarify whether there was a party or not, saying, “I understand the anger and frustration of the people.”
leader of the labor party Keer starrer Told the Prime Minister that there is pressure on the credit from his account.
He told lawmakers, “They knew there was a party, they knew it was against the rules, they knew they couldn’t accept it, and they thought it was funny.”
“Does the prime minister think he has the moral right to lead and tell the British people to stick to the rules?” He asked.
The country’s senior-most civil servant, cabinet secretary Simon Case, will lead the newly announced investigation.
“The case has been called on (December) 18 to establish the facts on any incident, and that is what it will begin,” Johnson’s spokesman told reporters. The team will set its deadline “right,” but obviously we want it (a report) as soon as possible.
London’s Metropolitan Police said in a statement on Wednesday that they would not open an investigation because the footage “does not provide evidence of violations of health safety regulations”, as well as citing “our policy not to investigate violations retrospectively”.
The alleged party is the latest example of apparent government hypocrisy over sanctions after several past scandals including the health secretary Matt Hancock Resigning in June for breaking coronavirus restrictions during a relationship with a colleague.
Incendiary footage shows Stratton fielding questions during a rehearsal press conference on December 22 with no media present.
The group had laughed and traded four days earlier at a “fantasy party”, which reportedly included food, drink, games and “Secret Santa” gifts.
“This imaginary party was a business meeting and it wasn’t social distancing,” Stratton laughs at an exchange of jokes about “cheese and wine” and whether the prime minister would “exploit” such an event.
At the time, London was under strict restrictions and indoor social gatherings of two or more people were banned, while office parties were specifically outlawed.
The video, which was leaked to broadcaster ITV News late Tuesday, led to headline news bulletins, millions of views online and condemnation from across the political spectrum.
Conservative MPs were also among those seeking answers.
Tory MP Roger Gale told the BBC: “It’s no laughing matter.
The scandal has echoes of an infamous incident involving Dominic Cummings, Johnson’s then-main aide, who drove hundreds of kilometers to stay away from his London home during the lockdown.
With omicron A fast-spreading version in Britain, some Conservative MPs said the latest scandal would make sanctions “much more difficult”.
“Events of the last 24 hours have made this almost impossible now,” influential Backbench MP Charles Walker told Times Radio.
But Johnson announced new virus measures for England later on Wednesday, including advice on working from home, the introduction of mandatory COVID passes for crowded areas and the wearing of masks inside most public indoor spaces.
The leaked footage appears to contradict Johnson and his ministers for more than a week after the newspaper reported that dozens of employees attended an evening gathering on December 18, 2020.
The leader, who is facing demands for the resignation of some opposition leaders during the parliamentary question session, said “disciplinary action” would be taken if rules were found to be violated in the probe.
“I understand and share the anger of the country’s top and bottom when Number 10 employees shine a light on the lockdown measures,” he said.
“I apologize unreservedly for the offense he has committed … and I apologize for the impression it gives.”
Johnson said he was “repeatedly assured” that there were no parties inside his No. 10 Downing Street office and that no rules had been broken.
Johnson’s advisor allegra stratton, a former political journalist who served as his press secretary at the time the footage was recorded, swiftly tendered his resignation.
Footage shows she jokingly referring to a “fantasy party” while preparing for a press conference.
In a tearful statement, Stratton acknowledged her comments “seemed to lighten the rules” and said she would “regret those comments for the rest of my day”.
She did not clarify whether there was a party or not, saying, “I understand the anger and frustration of the people.”
leader of the labor party Keer starrer Told the Prime Minister that there is pressure on the credit from his account.
He told lawmakers, “They knew there was a party, they knew it was against the rules, they knew they couldn’t accept it, and they thought it was funny.”
“Does the prime minister think he has the moral right to lead and tell the British people to stick to the rules?” He asked.
The country’s senior-most civil servant, cabinet secretary Simon Case, will lead the newly announced investigation.
“The case has been called on (December) 18 to establish the facts on any incident, and that is what it will begin,” Johnson’s spokesman told reporters. The team will set its deadline “right,” but obviously we want it (a report) as soon as possible.
London’s Metropolitan Police said in a statement on Wednesday that they would not open an investigation because the footage “does not provide evidence of violations of health safety regulations”, as well as citing “our policy not to investigate violations retrospectively”.
The alleged party is the latest example of apparent government hypocrisy over sanctions after several past scandals including the health secretary Matt Hancock Resigning in June for breaking coronavirus restrictions during a relationship with a colleague.
Incendiary footage shows Stratton fielding questions during a rehearsal press conference on December 22 with no media present.
The group had laughed and traded four days earlier at a “fantasy party”, which reportedly included food, drink, games and “Secret Santa” gifts.
“This imaginary party was a business meeting and it wasn’t social distancing,” Stratton laughs at an exchange of jokes about “cheese and wine” and whether the prime minister would “exploit” such an event.
At the time, London was under strict restrictions and indoor social gatherings of two or more people were banned, while office parties were specifically outlawed.
The video, which was leaked to broadcaster ITV News late Tuesday, led to headline news bulletins, millions of views online and condemnation from across the political spectrum.
Conservative MPs were also among those seeking answers.
Tory MP Roger Gale told the BBC: “It’s no laughing matter.
The scandal has echoes of an infamous incident involving Dominic Cummings, Johnson’s then-main aide, who drove hundreds of kilometers to stay away from his London home during the lockdown.
With omicron A fast-spreading version in Britain, some Conservative MPs said the latest scandal would make sanctions “much more difficult”.
“Events of the last 24 hours have made this almost impossible now,” influential Backbench MP Charles Walker told Times Radio.
But Johnson announced new virus measures for England later on Wednesday, including advice on working from home, the introduction of mandatory COVID passes for crowded areas and the wearing of masks inside most public indoor spaces.
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