British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has offered his ‘heartfelt apologies’ for the party in the garden of his official residence in May last year. That party took place during the strict lockdown in Great Britain, in which up to two people were allowed to meet outside. Johnson emphasized almost immediately afterwards that it was according to the rules.
Johnson said he thought it was a work meeting. “But with the knowledge of now I should have sent everyone away,” Johnson said during question time in the British House of Commons.
Check out the footage of Johnson going a little over the top about violating the lockdown rules here
On May 20, Johnson and dozens of employees gathered in the garden of 10 Downing Street. An internal email leaked last week inviting employees of the Prime Minister to the party. In it, she was asked to bring their own drinks.
“I want to apologize. I know that tens of millions of people across the country have made extraordinary sacrifices in the past 18 months. I know the fear they have gone through, the relatives they have grieved for, and that it is not possible was to live the life they wanted and do the things they love,” Johnson said.
He referred to the ongoing investigation into possibly illegal gatherings of government employees during the lockdown.
Labor leader Keith Starmer called it unacceptable that Johnson believes that different rules apply to him than to the British themselves. He called on Johnson to resign.
The scandal surrounding several corona parties has now come to be called ‘Partygate’. Johnson has survived multiple scandals and missteps, including allegations of corruption, since becoming Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in July 2019.
He is also struggling with a rebellion within the Conservatives about his corona policy. Recently, there was also the loss of a conservative stronghold in by-elections and the resignation of Brexit minister Frost amid dissatisfaction with government policy.