Boris Johnson's latest scandal? Another lockdown party
3 Min Read
A leaked email from Martin Reynolds has emerged, in which he invites a hundred to a party amid the first Covid lockdown in England.
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Boris Johnson (Getty images)
According to a leaked email, English Prime Minister Boris Johnson's principal private secretary Martin Reynolds, invited more than 100 colleagues to "socially distanced drinks in the No. 10 garden," during the first lockdown in England.
The official instructions regarding workplace in-person meetings indicated meetings should only be held if "absolutely necessary."
The email was published by ITV News on Monday and included Reynolds telling those invited that it would be "nice to make the most of the lovely weather," and "bring their own booze."
On the same day of the gathering, the then-culture secretary, Oliver Dowden, delivered the Downing Street coronavirus briefing, in which he announced that 363 more individuals in the UK had died from Covid in the preceding 24 hours, where he told the public "You can meet one person outside of your household in an outdoor, public place provided that you stay two meters apart."
When asked about his presence at the party, the prime minister said "that as you know, is the subject of a proper investigation by Sue Gray."
Gray has been given the responsibility for investigating the parties.
According to two eyewitnesses to BBC, Johnson and his wife Carrie were in attendance.
The Labour party said the PM would face "serious questions" if his attendance was proven.
Poll voters think PM Johnson should resign
Johnson has been at the center of a series of scandals recently, and last month a poll was released with a majority of respondents believing he should quit.
Johnson has come under fire in recent weeks for everything, from sponsoring the renovation of his Downing Street home to saying that he helped to guarantee the evacuation of pets from Kabul during the tumultuous western exit last August.
The most damaging reports have been that a party was held at Downing Street during a 2020 Christmas lockdown even when such celebrations were prohibited, with a video showing workers laughing and joking about it.
Johnson witnesses a fall
In December, Johnson's personal assessment fell to its lowest level since the election.
According to political pundits, there has been rising dissatisfaction with Johnson's leadership among Conservative lawmakers, and scores are anticipated to vote against his idea for new steps to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant next week.
"The findings of our latest poll are certainly dramatic, with a devastating fall in both support for the Conservatives and approval for the prime minister," said Adam Drummond, Head of Political Polling at Opinium.
