The revelation of more photographs of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, this time drinking at a farewell party in Downing Street, the seat of the British government, sparked new accusations from the opposition that the politician broke the rules he himself imposed to prevent the spread of Covid in the country. United Kingdom.
The images, obtained by the ITV News channel, were taken during a meeting in honor of communications director Lee Cain, who left the prime minister’s administration in November 2020. The photos, revealed on Monday (23), show Boris making a toast while holding a glass.
At the time, meetings with people outside their homes were banned, as England was placed on lockdown due to the increase in coronavirus cases.
The Reuters news agency was unable to independently verify when and where the footage was taken. The prime minister’s office, for its part, said the police had access to all information in the investigation it carried out, including photographs. Boris was not fined for participating in the November 2020 event, but received a notice due to a party marking his birthday in June of that year, an event at which he says he stayed for less than ten minutes.
At the time, the prime minister apologized for what he called a mistake, but refused to resign.
When asked if she was aware of the footage from Cain’s going away party. the London Metropolitan Police referred to a statement released last week about the end of the investigation. Boris’s office, which has been carrying out an independent investigation, declined to comment on the case.
The government is expected to release this week the long-awaited report conducted by server Sue Gray on the events that took place in Downing Street during the country’s lockdown period. So far, the police have issued 126 fines in connection with the parties at the headquarters of the British administration.
The document, which should include details of events that were not ascertained by the agents, could generate more criticism of the UK leader, who has been under pressure for months due to the scandals and the defeats of his Conservative Party during the regional elections that took place in the beginning of the month.
The images revealed on Monday appear to weaken Boris’s arguments. When asked in parliament in December about reports of a party in Downing Street the previous month, the prime minister said he was sure “the rules were followed all along”.
Angela Rayner, deputy leader of the opposition Labor Party, accused the prime minister of lying. “Boris Johnson has repeatedly stated that he knew nothing about breaking the law — now there is no doubt that he lied,” she said. “Johnson made the rules and then he broke them.”
