Storm on British Prime Minister Boris Johnson for a video dating back to a year ago in which some of his close associates joked about holding a Christmas party in Downing Street when social gatherings were prohibited by anti-Covid rules.
Footage released by broadcaster ITV shows Johnson's then press officer Allegra Stratton, councilor Ed Oldfied and other staff joking about "an imaginary party" at a trial press conference on Dec. 22, with no media presence present.
A cleaver for Johnson just as the pandemic situation becomes worrying in the country and his administration has decided to move to "plan B". The measures provide for the vaccination Green Pass for entry to discos and clubs where large groups of people gather, the return to the widespread indication of work from home and the extension of the use of the mask to most of the closed places.
The prime minister stressed that the new variant is "growing much faster" than Delta and that Omicron cases could double every two or three days. Under the new measures, from Monday the British will be advised to work from home wherever possible. While the obligation of masks in closed places starts from Friday and these include theaters and cinemas.
THE APOLOGIES - Returning to the offending video, Downing Street repeats that there was no party. But a source confirmed to the BBC that the party took place on December 18, in the presence of "several dozen" people, but not the prime minister.
Johnson for his part apologized "unreservedly": "I was also furious to see that clip", he said at the beginning of the question time in the House of Commons, to add that "disciplinary measures will be taken". However, he reiterated that "there was no party" and that, as he was told, "no anti-Covid measures have been broken".
For the Labor leader, Keir Starmer, the premier "cannot understand the damage he has done to his credibility", as millions of citizens feel "cheated" because the anti Covid rules were violated by Downing Street while everyone had to respect them. From the leader of the Scottish independence party (SNP), Ian Blackford, an invitation to resign has even arrived for the prime minister. "It would be the only right thing to do," he said.
The only fallen head was that of Allegra Strutton, a consultant to the British premier at the center of the controversial video. Strutton, who was then serving as the conservative prime minister's press officer, tearfully read the resignation statement in which he offered his deepest apologies and admitted that he will regret the sentences spoken in that video for life.
(Unioneonline / D)