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Boris Johnson (visiting a brewery in 2021)
Photo: Dan Kitwood / dpa
Pressure on Boris Johnson has risen again following reports of a surprise birthday party at Downing Street despite the coronavirus lockdown.
Opposition leader Keir Starmer of the Labor Party has criticized the government as "chaotic and rudderless" and has repeatedly called for the Prime Minister's resignation.
"He has to go," Starmer agreed.
According to the broadcaster ITV, up to 30 guests are said to have been present at the alleged celebration on the afternoon of June 19, 2020 for Johnson's 56th birthday, including mainly employees, but also the designer Lulu Lytle, who at the time bought the official apartment for a lot of money the Johnsons renovated. Carrie Johnson, the PM's wife, is said to have started the song "Happy Birthday" according to the report. In addition to the cake, there is said to have been a picnic with delicacies from a well-known department store and delicatessen chain. Later, several family members were at the Johnsons' home for a private party.
Members of their own Conservative Tory party also reacted angrily: Former Conservative Party leader Baroness Warsi told the BBC News Channel it was time Mr Johnson "thinked long and hard about what is in the best interests of this country is".
She also said, "The question he should be asking himself every morning is, 'Am I staying in office so I can run this office in a way that makes the country better, or am I a nuisance?'" The Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen said the report on the Prime Minister's celebration "could be the last straw".
Test result later this week
Johnson's voluntary departure is hardly expected.
However, the growing resentment in his own party could become dangerous for him.
He is faced with a coalition of different camps.
If 54 members of his parliamentary group in the House of Commons write in favor of a change, there would be a vote of no confidence.
Things were already looking dicey for the prime minister last week.
He had admitted to attending a garden party at his official residence in May 2020 but claimed to have mistook it for a work meeting.
His private secretary had invited them in an e-mail with the note “bring your own alcohol”.
However, Johnson claims to have seen neither the email nor the warnings in advance that it was a breach of the rules.
With a defiant appearance at Question Time in Parliament last Wednesday, Johnson was able to regain some breathing space.
But whether he will succeed again is doubtful.
The result of an internal investigation by senior official Sue Gray is expected later this week.
Northern Ireland Labor MP Peter Kyl told the BBC that "there is no ambiguity" in the reports on Johnson.
Gray now has a "pretty uncomplicated job."
as/dpa