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Exchange of blows in the British Parliament.
Right at the beginning of Question Time with the British Prime Minister, he asks for forgiveness.
Boris Johnson, British Prime Minister
“Mr. Speaker, I have to apologize. I know a lot of people are angry with me and the government I lead because they think that in the seat of government the rules are not being enforced by the people who make them. "
What happened?
In the past few days it has become known that Johnson attended a garden party with dozens of guests at his official residence in the middle of the first lockdown, in May 2020.
Many British men and women were not even able to visit dying relatives in hospital at the time.
Boris Johnson, British Prime Minister
“And when I went to this garden just after 6 p.m. on May 20, 2020 to thank some of the staff before returning to my office 25 minutes later to continue my work, I believed it was a work event acted. But Mr. Speaker, in retrospect I should have sent everyone back to the house. "
Labor leader and opposition leader Keir Starmer gratefully accepted the submission.
Keir Starmer, Labor chairman
“It's so ridiculous that it's actually offensive to the British public. He (Johnson) was finally forced to admit what everyone knew - while the whole country was cordoned off. He's been throwing drinking parties on Downing Street. Will he now do the decent thing and step back? "
Boris Johnson, British Prime Minister
“I'm sorry, I'm very sorry. I very much regret that we did not act differently that evening. "
Keir Starmer, Labor chairman
“Mr. Speaker, when the prime minister's former health minister broke the rules, he resigned. And the Prime Minister said it was right to do so. Then the Prime Minister's spokeswoman laughed at the breaking of the rules. She resigned and the Prime Minister accepted her resignation. Why does the Prime Minister still think that the rules don't apply to him? "
Labor politician Turner went one better - and urged Johnson directly to resign.
Karl Turner, Labor MP
"He didn't apologize, Mr. Speaker, for breaking the rules and the law. He's just sorry because he was caught. (...) So how can he believe he's still a rule for can maintain himself and another for the rest of us. He cannot and he must resign. "
Johnson ignored the resignation requests, citing an ongoing investigation into several alleged government officials' parties that took place despite lockdown rules.
But even the pressure from one's own party is increasing.
Sequel follows.