Johnson's garden party scandal in lockdown: Premier apologizes to British royal family

Created: 01/15/2022, 06:08

Boris Johnson has been making headlines for weeks.

Now he has publicly apologized for a garden party.

But is that enough?

He's under a lot of pressure.

Update from January 14, 2:20 p.m .:

After the British Prime Minister was heavily criticized not only by the public but also by his parliament for the lockdown parties held in Downing Street, there is now an explosive detail.

Because one of the parties in the Prime Minister's office was celebrated on April 16, 2021.

The evening before the funeral of the recently deceased Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth's husband.

At that time the whole country was actually in national mourning.

Today the British government apologized to the royal family: "It is deeply regrettable that this has come at a time of national mourning," said a spokesman for Boris Johnson in London on Friday.

You take full responsibility "for the things that we didn't do right".

Party instead of national mourning: Johnson continues to be under fire

LONDON

- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has admitted attending a garden party at Downing Street government headquarters during the first coronavirus lockdown in May 2020 and has apologized for his wrongdoing.

Before MPs in the British Parliament in London, Johnson stated on Wednesday (January 12) that he had assumed a working meeting in accordance with the applicable pandemic rules.

The Labor opposition accused the Prime Minister of being a liar and called for his resignation.

Johnson issued a "heartfelt apology" and said he takes responsibility for the "mistakes" that were made.

He admitted he wasn't sure how the event would affect the millions of Brits who have made "extraordinary sacrifices" during the coronavirus lockdown, even missing out on saying goodbye to dying loved ones.

Heat question time in England: Johnson apologizes

"I would like to offer my sincere apologies to them and to this House," Johnson said during a heated Question Time session in the House of Commons.

However, he rejected the opposition's demands for his resignation.

"In retrospect, I should have sent everyone back inside.

I should have found another way to thank them (his staff)," Johnson said.

He himself was present for about 25 minutes.

"His defense of not knowing he was at a party is so ridiculous that it is an insult to the British public," Labor Party leader Keir Starmer said in Parliament.

He accused Johnson of "lying outright" and dismissed the apology as "worthless."

"The prime minister is a man without shame," Starmer said.

Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of Great Britain © Jack Hill / dpa

Johnson's resignation?

Even representatives in his own party want that

Some representatives in Johnson's own conservative party also want the prime minister to resign.

However, Johnson said he would await the results of an internal investigation.

"If the Prime Minister knowingly attended a party, I don't see how he can survive after accepting resignations for far less," Conservative MP Nigel Mills told the BBC.

"We now know that the Prime Minister spent 25 minutes at what was clearly a party.

That means he misled Parliament," Tory MP Roger Gale told the BBC on Wednesday.

Johnson is now a “dead man walking”, a prime minister on call.

Few Tories publicly supported the Prime Minister.

The revelations about two garden parties - within five days in May 2020 at the seat of government in Downing Street with dozens of guests - had put considerable pressure on Johnson's government in recent days.

At that time, the country was in a strict Corona * lockdown and even meetings of more than two people outdoors were forbidden.

Thousands died in the country's intensive care units.

Representatives of Corona victims had asked Johnson to "do the right thing" and break his silence.

Premier Johnson at party - London police are investigating possible lockdown breaches

According to media reports, at the second party on May 20, 2020, more than a hundred guests received an invitation, including the Prime Minister and his now-wife Carrie. Around 40 government employees followed the invitation of senior government official Martin Reynolds to “take advantage of the beautiful weather after an incredibly busy time and have a few drinks by far in the garden of number 10 tonight”. Guests were asked to "bring their own alcohol." Johnson referred his apology to this celebration.

A photo has leaked from the first party on May 15, showing Johnson enjoying wine and cheese in the Downing Street garden with Carrie and around 20 staff.

The London police said on Tuesday that they were investigating possible violations of the lockdown regulations at the seat of government.

Johnson's government has come under fire several times for suspected violations of the self-imposed corona rules, both publicly and within its own ranks.

Among other things, it was about Christmas celebrations in December 2020, when the country was in lockdown.

Johnson is also under fire in Wallpapergate.