• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Meet the Team
  • Contact us
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
  • JOBS
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
  • JOBS
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home Politics

Reaction as Boris Johnson snapped at lockdown-busting Downing Street gathering

The prime minister is alleged to have told one aide that they deserved a drink for “beating back” coronavirus.

Jack Peat by Jack Peat
2021-12-20 07:59
in Politics
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

Boris Johnson is set to face fresh questions over gatherings held at Downing Street during lockdown restrictions after the emergence of a photo showing him, his wife, and staff in the garden of No 10 during the first national lockdown.

The photo, obtained by the Guardian, showed Mr Johnson, his then-fiancee Carrie, and 17 other staff members in the garden on May 15, 2020, with bottles of wine and a cheeseboard on a table in front of the PM.

No 10 has insisted work meetings often took place in the garden, and a leading human rights barrister said it is unlikely the gatherings broke the law.

But the photo was taken at a time when restrictions on meeting others were still in place.

“Please stick with the rules”

Earlier on the same day, then health secretary Matt Hancock had told the daily coronavirus briefing: “People can now spend time outdoors and exercise as often as you like – and you can meet one other person from outside your household in an outdoor, public place. But please keep two metres apart.”

He added: “Please stick with the rules, keep an eye on your family and don’t take risks.”

Human rights barrister Adam Wagner, who examines coronavirus regulations and interprets them on Twitter for the public, said he was “doubtful it was against the law”, but that it may have been against guidance.

RelatedPosts

Boris Johnson described foreign secretary job as like being in a ‘steel condom’

FBI raid Donald Trump’s Florida home

Meet the Tory members who get to choose the next prime minister

Nicola Sturgeon calls for urgent meeting with PM over cost-of-living crisis

He said on Twitter that regulations at the time stated “you couldn’t be outside the place you were living without a reasonable excuse” and that working would be such a reason.

And that there was “no way of knowing from a pic that they weren’t working”.

“Tell us the truth”

However Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner has urged Mr Johnson to “tell us the truth”.

In the photograph published by The Guardian, Mr Johnson can be seen sitting around a garden table with his then-fiancee Carrie, and two members of staff.

On the table are bottles of wine and a cheeseboard.

Four other members of staff are sat around a second table a distance away.

Nine people are then gathered on the grass, with another two sat on the floor to the right.

On Sunday, a No 10 spokesperson told The Guardian: “As we said last week, work meetings often take place in the Downing Street garden in the summer months. On this occasion there were staff meetings after a No 10 press conference.

“Downing Street is the Prime Minister’s home as well as his workplace. The Prime Minister’s wife lives in No 10 and therefore also legitimately uses the garden.”

“Enough is enough”

But following the emergence of the photographs, Labour’s Ms Rayner tweeted: “I guess staff meetings look a bit different if you went to Eton?

“Enough is enough. Tell us the truth about what was going on in Downing Street from the very beginning immediately @BorisJohnson.”

The Prime Minister is alleged to have told one aide that they deserved a drink for “beating back” coronavirus.

Some aides reportedly carried on drinking into the evening, although there was no suggestion Mr Johnson or Mr Hancock had any alcohol or stayed late.

The alleged gathering is one of a number which have been reported across Whitehall during coronavirus restrictions.

Senior civil servant Sue Gray has been tasked with investigating the reports after Cabinet Secretary Simon Case was removed from the probe after it was revealed he had known about a quiz held in his department.

Reaction

I guess staff meetings look a bit different if you went to Eton?

Enough is enough. Tell us the truth about what was going on in Downing Street from the very beginning immediately @BorisJohnson https://t.co/Ovrs9Z5Zxh

— Angela Rayner (@AngelaRayner) December 19, 2021

Oh yeah this is a classic deadly pandemic work meeting. Wine for hydration, wife there for reasons, cheese in case someone needs to write out that day’s death stats in the Camembert. pic.twitter.com/TqaWUnXLpL

— James Felton (@JimMFelton) December 19, 2021

⁦Simple: ⁦@BorisJohnson⁩ doesn’t give a hoot, a fig, a monkey or a damn about you. pic.twitter.com/yelSYKIL0O

— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) December 20, 2021

The Tory commentariat scoffing at the story of the Downing Street party, seriously underestimate the anger out there. There are hundreds of thousands of bereaved people and very many millions more of us who did what we were told. It isn't funny. It can't just be brushed away.

— Otto English (@Otto_English) December 19, 2021

I am told that this man having wine and cheese with the PM is Martin Reynolds, Boris Johnson’s Principal Private Secretary.

Mr Reynolds appears to be assisting with the investigation into parties in Downing Street last year. He emailed staff about it on Monday. pic.twitter.com/ewc3LaRT1x

— Tony Diver (@Tony_Diver) December 19, 2021

Whilst people were dying they were drinking wine in the garden.

Whilst people’s mental health was suffering due to lockdown they were in their second homes.

Whilst businesses collapsed they held Christmas parties.

The Tories are rotten to the core. They always have been.

— Dave Ward (@DaveWardGS) December 19, 2021

It's why the Downing St parties matter. Every funeral missed, every unattended life event, all of it. People quietly allowed heartbreak they'll never recover from into their lives, without complaint or hope of reward, because of a sense of duty their leaders have never displayed.

— Nick Pettigrew (@Nick_Pettigrew) December 19, 2021

Related: And your new Brexit minister is…. Liz Truss

Tags: Boris Johnson

Since you are here

Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.

Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.

Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.

If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.

To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.

The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.

The shop can be found here.

You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending on TLE

  • All
  • trending
Abdollah

‘Rescue us’: Afghan teacher begs UK to help him escape Taliban

CHOMSKY: “If Corbyn had been elected, Britain would be pursuing a much more sane course”

What If We Got Rid Of Prisons?

More from TLE

Michael Fabricant wades into ‘Carriegate’ and gets left at sea

How To Make… ‘Prawn Toast Revisited’

Pelvic Foor-ed: Study Shows How Clueless British Blokes Are About their Partner’s Health

Set For Life Results LIVE or Monday 28 June 2021 Tonight’s winning numbers

Full list of companies facing post-Brexit supply chain issues

In Numbers: The Life of an Office Worker

A cash-strapped council has spent a staggering £25m on external consultants – in just three years

Christmas Appeal: The Yule Log Clog

Brentford sign Leeds defender

Cat Turner’s empowering electro-pop is a fitting tribute to International Women’s Day

JOBS

FIND MORE JOBS

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.