The British Prime Minister is still embroiled in the scandal of the booze parties (“watered evenings”). Boris Johnson, on Tuesday January 18, denied having been warned that a party contrary to anti-Covid rules would be organized in Downing Street in May 2020, as accused by his former adviser Dominic Cummings.
The Conservative leader, who had assured that he had not been informed of the organization of this booze party on May 20, 2020 in the midst of the first confinement, had apologized to the deputies after revelations in the press about his presence at this event, one of many drinking parties reportedly held in Downing Street during the lockdowns of the past two years.
But Dominic Cummings, influential mastermind of the successful Brexit campaign, accused Mr Johnson on social media of lying to Parliament by claiming he thought the party, which he attended for 25 minutes in the gardens of his official residence, was a business meeting.
Internal investigation
He said he and another official had warned Boris Johnson ahead of the party, for which the Prime Minister’s private secretary had sent around 100 invitations.
The one who regularly launches attacks against his former leader since his resignation in November 2020, wrote on his Twitter account:
“The Prime Minister was warned about these invitations, he knew it was a pot, he lied to Parliament. »
He added on his blog that Boris Johnson brushed aside his concerns, and being prepared to do so “swear under oath” like other witnesses.
A spokesperson for the head of government denied:
“It is false to say that the Prime Minister had been warned in advance about this event. »
He thought “implicitly” that it was a work meeting, he added, referring to the conclusions to come from an internal investigation carried out by a senior official, Sue Gray.
Dominic Cummings himself had been singled out for having contravened the anti-Covid rules in the spring of 2020 by traveling with his family in full confinement, which was prohibited.
Under pressure, Boris Johnson saw calls for resignation multiply even in the conservative camp. Downing Street also apologized to Queen Elizabeth II for two parties organized in April 2021 on the eve of the funeral of her husband, Prince Philip.