Downing Street apologizes to the Queen

Humiliating conclusion to a week of disastrous revelations for Boris Johnson: Downing Street apologized to Elizabeth II on Friday for parties organized in full confinement as the queen prepared to bury her husband.

This is one of the images symbols of the rigor of confinements in the United Kingdom: the nonagenarian queen, dressed in black up to the mask, seated alone in the chapel of Windsor castle during the funeral of Prince Philip.

Until the early morning of April 17, 2021, in full national mourning, Downing Street collaborators – without the Prime Minister – were celebrating the departure of two members of the team, according to The Telegraph, communications director James Slack , since deputy editor of the tabloid The Sun, and a personal photographer of Boris Johnson.

The revelers, around 30, had gathered in the gardens of the official residence, according to the conservative newspaper which once employed Boris Johnson. A participant had been sent to buy wine brought back to Downing Street in a suitcase, he said.

“It is deeply regrettable that this took place at a time of national mourning and No 10 (Downing Street) has issued an apology to the Palace,” a spokesman for Boris Johnson said.

At the time, indoor meetings were prohibited, with the British only being able to meet with a maximum of six outside.

These excuses are particularly humiliating for the conservative leader, openly criticized in his majority and facing his worst crisis since coming to power in July 2019.

– “Unreserved” apologies –

Boris Johnson, 57, was not present and was, according to a spokesman quoted by the Telegraph, at his country residence in Checkers.

The list goes on and on. On Friday afternoon, the former head of the group responsible for drawing up the anti-covid restrictions, Kate Josephs, in turn apologized for having organized a going away party at the government offices on December 17, 2020.

These seemingly endless revelations also highlight, according to witnesses quoted in the media, a real drinking culture in Downing Street.

They further sink the Conservative leader who, case of Covid contact, has not been seen in public since his mea culpa on Wednesday in Parliament for his presence at one of these parties in May 2020. He said he then thought he was it was a business meeting.

Now very weakened in the polls, he is now fighting to remain at the head of the government.

In his west London constituency, many voters are venting their anger. “It’s absolutely disgusting that the one supposed to be chief breaks his own rules”, laments Keith Kelly, “disappointed” but “not surprised”. “It’s despicable, it’s a disgrace to democracy.”

“The Queen sat alone, grieving, like so many others at the time, affected by personal trauma and sacrifice, in order to uphold the rules in the national interest,” denounced on Twitter Angela Rayner, the chief deputy of Labour, the main opposition party.

– “Moral vacuum” –

Very critical, several Conservative MPs, some of whom have been fervent supporters so far, have joined the opposition in demanding the resignation of Boris Johnson.

Denouncing “a moral vacuum at the heart of the government”, Andrew Bridgen is the latest to have sent a letter of defiance to a powerful committee governing the parliamentary organization of the Conservative Party.

If he receives enough, the latter will have to organize a vote which could cost his place to Boris Johnson.

The head of diplomacy Liz Truss, perceived as a potential candidate for the post of Prime Minister, said Friday to support him “100%”. Another potential challenger, his finance colleague Rishi Sunak, was much more reserved.

But before drawing any consequences, Boris Johnson and his ministers repeat at will that it is advisable to wait, next week at best, for the conclusions of an internal investigation. Criticized for its wait-and-see attitude, the London police have adopted the same line.

The Times said on Friday that this investigation would not have found enough evidence of criminal offences.

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