Participants in the parties held at the Prime Minister’s residence during the coronavirus ban period in England told the BBC what happened.
Speaking to the BBC’s Panorama program, Prime Ministry employees listed one by one how these parties were filled to the brim, how everyone sat on their laps, and how the garbage of the party was left in the middle, despite all the restrictions imposed on citizens due to the coronavirus.
It is the first time that the participants of these parties have made statements to the media regarding the party scandal that has put British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in danger of losing his seat.
Prime Ministry employees said that when they came to work the next day of these parties, they found empty liquor bottles all over the building, garbage cans filled to the brim, and leftovers on the tables.
They even stated that some parties continued until very late hours and that those who could not go to their homes slept in the Prime Ministry building.
It was also stated that some of the Prime Ministry employees joined these parties and tried to warn those who acted irresponsibly, but they were made fun of in response.
The BBC asked the Prime Minister’s opinion on the matter. However, the Prime Minister’s Office declined to respond to the BBC, stating that a statement would be made after the investigation, the results of which are expected to be announced this week.
The findings of the investigation, which was prepared by the government under the leadership of senior bureaucrat Sue Gray and investigating the parties held in the Prime Ministry building during the coronavirus bans, is expected to be announced tomorrow.
The London Metropolitan Police Service (Met) completed its investigation into drinking parties on 20 May and announced that a total of 126 fines were imposed on 83 people as part of events held on eight different dates.
However, the Prime Minister’s Office had stated that Johnson would not receive new sentences as a result of the investigation.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson was only sentenced to attend a birthday party in June 2020.
However, the pressure on both the police and Prime Minister Johnson has increased after ITV News received new footage of Prime Minister Johnson toasting at the Prime Minister’s farewell party for Prime Minister Communications Director Lee Cain on 13 November 2020.
It was stated that at another party held after Prince Philip’s death on April 16, 2021, people danced, and at one point, security guards came and warned those at the party to leave the building as the noise arose.
Speaking to the BBC, three Prime Ministry employees, who did not want to reveal their identities, revealed how the rules are regularly violated in the Prime Ministry building while the whole country is living under quarantine rules due to coronavirus bans.
Prime Ministry employees, who made statements to the BBC, said that parties had become routine at some point.
One of them said, “There was a party every week now. The invitations of the Friday parties were now even on the calendars.”
It is stated that the parties called Wine-Time Friday (WTF) are usually held around 16.00 in the evening.
However, it is also stated that the parties are not limited to only Fridays.
PARALLEL UNIVERSE
So, how was it possible to hold these parties at the Prime Ministry when the whole country was under quarantine due to Covid 19 bans?
Three Prime Ministry employees speaking to the BBC also draw the image of a parallel universe prevailing in the Prime Ministry at that time.
“The rules didn’t bind us, we lived in our own bubble. Life was going on as if everything was normal. There was no social distancing. We didn’t wear masks either. We lived a completely different life from the outside world,” says one of them.
They say these parties are also dominated by the feeling that Prime Minister Johnson personally approves:
“He was also going to parties on the way to his apartment. No, he wasn’t saying that this shouldn’t be done or anything. ‘Can everyone please go home, can this party break up?’ ‘Let’s pay attention to social distance or can everyone wear their masks?’ he wasn’t saying either.
“No, he didn’t say anything to anyone. He poured himself a glass and drank it.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson was penalized for participating in one party, but claimed that he did not join any other party, did not violate the rules, or did not know that the rules were violated in the Prime Minister’s building.
However, Prime Ministry employees say that it is very difficult to believe Johnson’s claims.
The political cost of the party scandal to Prime Minister Johnson has not yet been very heavy, but public confidence in him and his office has eroded and calls for his resignation have increased. Despite all the pressure on Johnson, he has managed to retain his seat so far.
