Boris Johnson under pressure: More lockdown parties at UK Prime Minister's seat

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Boris Johnson outside 10 Downing Street

Photo: Tim Ireland / imago images / Xinhua

The scandal surrounding celebrations at the British Prime Minister's seat of government is spreading: according to a report, dozens of Boris Johnson's employees celebrated lockdown parties in Downing Street on the eve of the funeral of Queen consort Prince Philip in April 2021. The newspaper "Daily Telegraph" reported on Thursday evening, citing eyewitnesses, that it was about the farewell of two confidants of the head of government. Johnson himself was therefore not present. The newspaper wrote that Downing Street had not denied the reports.

The country was then in national mourning over the death of Queen Elizabeth II's husband, Prince Philip. The pictures of the Queen, who was sitting alone in a row of pews in the church due to the corona restrictions, symbolized the severity of the lockdown in the United Kingdom at the time. Strict distance rules were in force in mid-April 2021, members of different households were not allowed to meet in closed rooms.

A lot of alcohol was drunk and people danced at the parties, the Telegraph reported. An advisor to Johnson was temporarily responsible for the music. Alcoholic supplies were brought in a suitcase from a nearby supermarket. A participant used his son's swing in the garden of Johnson's official residence and broke it. A total of around 30 people are said to have taken part in the two initially separate events, which would have mixed up around midnight.

Johnson has been heavily criticized for multiple alleged lockdown parties at Downing Street in May and December 2020.

The opposition and some Tory MPs are calling for his resignation.

The prime minister only apologized on Wednesday.

This is now the first known incident from 2021.

Commentators pointed out that Prince Philip's funeral was close in time.

Johnson had asked to await the outcome of an ongoing internal investigation.

cop/dpa/AFP