The prime minister stays in scorching water amid allegations surrounding a string of events that allegedly came about in Downing Avenue throughout England’s first lockdown in Could 2020.
Having initially stated in December he was “sickened” on the prospect of workers ignoring social restrictions, Mr Johnson has been pressured to confess to the Home of Commons that he himself attended no less than one such occasion as an increasing number of tales proceed to play out within the newspapers about additional illicit gatherings that apparently came about behind closed doorways whereas the British public obeyed powerful restrictions.
Senior civil servant Sue Grey is presently finishing up an inquiry into the affair and will flip in her report earlier than the tip of the week.
Here’s what the PM has stated in response to the occasions alleged to have taken place.
-15 Could 2020: Backyard occasion at Downing Avenue (cheese and wine)
In December 2021, a photograph emerged displaying Boris and Carrie Johnson, former chief adviser Dominic Cummings and Mr Johnson’s principal non-public secretary, Martin Reynolds, sitting round a desk within the No 10 backyard through the first nationwide lockdown.
Mr Johnson stated in an interview on 20 December 2021: “These had been conferences of individuals at work. That is the place I dwell and it’s the place I work. These had been conferences of individuals at work, speaking about work.”
– 20 Could 2020: Backyard occasion at Downing Avenue (BYOB)
ITV reported a leaked electronic mail from Mr Reynolds to greater than 100 Downing Avenue workers asking them to “deliver your individual booze” for a night gathering.
A number of stories have prompt that the prime minister attended the occasion together with his spouse.
Requested if he and his spouse attended a Downing Avenue occasion that was organised byMr Reynolds on 20 Could 2020, Mr Johnson stated on 10 January 2022: “All that, as you recognize, is the topic of a correct investigation by Sue Grey.”
At Prime Minister’s Questions two days later, he confirmed that he had attended the backyard gathering for round 25 minutes with the intention of thanking his workers for his or her efforts through the pandemic whereas claiming, considerably improbably: “I believed implicitly that it was a piece occasion.”
-13 November 2020: Leaving occasion for senior aide and Johnsons’ flat occasion
In accordance with stories on the time, Mr Johnson gave a leaving speech for Lee Cain, his departing director of communications and shut ally of Mr Cummings.
There are additionally allegations that the prime minister’s then-fiancee hosted events of their flat, with one such occasion stated to have taken place on 13 November 2020, the night time Mr Cummings departed No 10.
Mr Johnson was requested within the Home of Commons on 8 December 2021: “Will the prime minister inform the Home whether or not there was a celebration in Downing Avenue on 13 November?”
He replied: “No, however I’m certain that no matter occurred the steering was adopted and the principles had been adopted always.”
– 15 December 2020: Downing Avenue quiz
The Sunday Mirror revealed a picture in December 2021 displaying the prime minister flanked by colleagues, one draped in tinsel and one other sporting a Santa hat, in No 10 the earlier yr.
Downing Avenue admitted Mr Johnson “briefly” attended the quiz after photographic proof emerged, however insisted it was a digital occasion.
In an interview on 13 December 2021, the PM stated: “I can inform you that I definitely broke no guidelines – the entire thing might be appeared into by the cupboard secretary, and what I’m targeted on, frankly, is the vaccine rollout.”
– 18 December 2020: Christmas occasion at Downing Avenue
In accordance with stories which first emerged on the finish of November 2021, officers and advisers made speeches, loved a cheese board, drank collectively and exchanged Secret Santa presents – though the prime minister will not be thought to have attended.
Mr Johnson stated in an interview on 7 December 2021: “I’ve glad myself that the rules had been adopted always.”
He stated within the Home of Commons on 8 December 2021: “I repeat that I’ve been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no occasion and that no Covid guidelines had been damaged. That’s what I’ve been repeatedly assured.
“However I’ve requested the cupboard secretary to ascertain all of the information and to report again as quickly as potential. It goes with out saying that if these guidelines had been damaged, there might be disciplinary motion for all these concerned.”
The PM additionally stated within the Commons on 8 December 2021: “I apologise for the impression that has been on condition that workers in Downing Avenue take this lower than critically. I’m sickened myself and livid about that, however I repeat what I’ve stated to him: I’ve been repeatedly assured that the principles weren’t damaged.”
Kaynak: briturkish.com