It was revealed that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson held parties at the Prime Minister’s Residence despite the corona restrictions, and photos of those parties were served. Senior officer Sue Gray has prepared a 12-page report on the scandal, which she publicly refers to as ‘Partygate’. As the investigation continued, Johnson made statements in the House of Commons and apologized for the parties held at the Prime Minister’s Residence.
“I UNDERSTAND AND I WILL FIX IT”
Stating that apologizing is not enough, Johnson stated that the government will make changes in the Prime Ministry so that it can continue to work. Expressing that it is time to review the civil service code of conduct, Johnson promised to improve the functioning of the government and the link between the Prime Minister’s Office and parliament in the coming days, saying, “I understand and I will fix it.”
“I have full confidence in the police and I hope they are allowed to continue their work,” Johnson said. It is known that only 4 of the 16 parties Gray investigated were not subject to criminal investigations initiated by the London Metropolitan Police.
“PRIME MINISTER MADE US ALL FOOL”
Labor Party leader Keir Starmer congratulated Gray, who prepared the report, for his professionalism and stated that they knew that 12 parties had reached the threshold of criminal investigation. Stating that people are saving lives by complying with the Covid-19 restrictions, and that they should be proud of themselves and their country, Starmer said, “The Prime Minister made fools of us all.”
Describing Johnson, who did not resign over Gray’s report, as a “shameless man”, Starmer stressed that Prime Minister Johnson and everyone involved in the scandal “insulted themselves and their offices” and eroded “the bond of trust between the government and the people.” In his speech, Starmer appealed to conservative lawmakers, calling for a vote of no confidence against Johnson’s government.
“PRIME MINISTER SHOULD FOLLOW THE RULES”
Former Prime Minister Theresa May, on the other hand, stated that the Covid-19 regulations impose restrictions on public freedoms and stated that they expect the prime minister to comply with the rules. Stating that Gray’s report showed that the Prime Ministry did not comply with the rules in question, May said, “Either he (Boris Johnson) did not read the rules or did not understand what it meant, or they did not think that the rules apply to number 10. Which was it?” she said.
“NUMBER 10 GAVE THE PARTY”
In his speech, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey, stated that words are insufficient for a parent who lost their child from Covid-19, “It is literally a loss beyond words. Many had to bury their children alone, many eventually unable to be with them. In the meantime, number 10 threw a party,” he said.
Davey reiterated his call to resign, asking if he cares about the “great damage” he has caused Prime Minister Johnson.
MORE THAN 300 PHOTOS GIVEN TO THE POLICE
It was stated that more than 300 photographs and 500 documents related to the parties in question were given to the London Metropolitan Police within the scope of the investigation, which was called “Partygate” in the press.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE REPORT?
In her report, Sue Gray stated that there was a “serious failure” in observing coronavirus standards at the Prime Minister’s Residence and that “a series of” meetings should not be allowed, and cited “leadership and judgment failures” due to the parties in question. The report stated that the garden of the Prime Minister’s Residence was “used for meetings without explicit authorization or oversight” and “this is not appropriate”. “At least some of these meetings represent a serious failure to observe not only the high standards expected of those working at the center of government, but also those expected of the entire British population at the time,” the report said.
The report also condemned the “excessive consumption of alcohol” on several occasions at a time when the British public was largely prohibited from socializing in the Prime Minister’s Residence, adding that “Some staff members wanted to voice their concerns about the behavior they witnessed, but sometimes felt they could not do it”. (UAV)