United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson is accused of breaching his country’s first coronavirus lockdown in May 2020 after a leaked email Monday showed a top official invited more than 100 workers to a garden party.
As reported by the Guardian, Johnson is suspected of attending the garden party despite strict measures meant to stop the spread of COVID-19 that severely limited gatherings. This was discovered after the emergence of an email invitation sent by Johnson’s principal private secretary Martin Reynolds to employees of No. 10 Downing Street.
“Hi all, after what has been an incredibly busy period we thought it would be nice to make the most of the lovely weather and have some socially distanced drinks in the No 10 garden this evening,” the email, obtained by ITV News, read. “Please join us from 6pm and bring your own booze!”
ITV News reported roughly 40 people attended the gathering on May 20, 2020, including the prime minister and his wife, Carrie Johnson.
In a photo previously published in the media, Johnson, his then-fiancee Carrie, and Reynolds are seen enjoying wine and cheese with other people. However, Johnson’s office claimed the gathering, which was said to be five days earlier on May 15, was not a party. Instead, the photos depicted them and employees who were working.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden reminded the public of the lockdown rules on May 20, 2020, limiting outdoor gatherings to be within the same household or with one person outside of the home if they remain two meters apart in an outdoor public place. The Metropolitan police also reminded the public of the same rules.
Five other events involving No. 10, the location of the office of the prime minister, are under investigation, including an alleged Christmas party in December of 2020 and a party at the Department of Education.
Johnson, who has denied any wrongdoing, is facing renewed calls to step down, especially after reports came out about Christmas parties being held at his residence in 2020 in violation of coronavirus restrictions.
“Boris Johnson has consistently shown that he has no regard for the rules he puts in place for the rest of us,” Angela Rayner, the deputy leader of the Labor Party, told the Guardian. “He is trying to get officials to take the fall for his own mistakes, but he sets the tone for the way Downing Street and the rest of government operates. At the time this party took place, key workers on the front line were working round the clock to keep us all safe. People suffered loneliness and loss in unimaginably tough circumstances.”
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Ian Blackford, the leader of the Scottish National Party, reiterated his call for the removal of Johnson and called for an investigation into the alleged violations.
“Boris Johnson is not above the law — no matter what he might think. There can’t be one rule for the Tory elite and another for the rest of us,” Blackford tweeted. “The Downing Street parties must be investigated — and if the Prime Minister has broken the rules or the law he must be held to account.”
Johnson’s spokespeople have not issued any statement on the leaked email at the time of publishing. Metropolitan Police confirmed investigators have heard about the alleged breaches and are in touch with the Cabinet Office.
