Embarrassed by a photo that shows him with advisers around a table with wine and cheese platters at 10 Downing Street in full confinement, Boris Johnson assures us that it was a working meeting.
An embarrassing photo for the Prime Minister. This Sunday, the Guardian posted an image, in which Boris Johnson, his wife and 17 of his advisers can be seen drinking wine and enjoying cheese platters at 10 Downing Street, while the country was in lockdown. According to Guardian, which revealed the photograph, the scene was captured on May 15, 2020.
Already worried about the organization of Christmas parties during confinement, Boris Johnson rejected the accusations on Monday.
“It was people at work, talking about work,” assured the Prime Minister, questioned by journalists.
Asked about the glasses of alcohol present during these discussions, and the absence of a computer or tools to take notes, Boris Johnson refuses to say more.
Unsurprisingly, the opposition took the opportunity to attack him. On the BBC, Sir Keir Starmer, at the head of the Labor Party, in particular made the comparison between this image and the people who could not go to the funerals of their relatives because of the confinement.
Sources told the Guardian that the Prime Minister had insisted with certain employees that they take a drink in order to reward them for having “fought” the virus.
An investigation has already been opened internally after the organization of parties in winter 2020, and an advisor to Boris Johnson has resigned. According to BBC, the Prime Minister is said to have taken part in at least one of the rallies. To avoid further controversy, all Christmas celebrations have been canceled this year.