British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was “not partying” in pictures published by the news program ITV News on Monday. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told Sky News on Tuesday.
According to him, the head of government only attended the event in November 2020, when there was a corona lockdown, to “raise a glass” to a departing staff member.
“The question is, was he there partying? No, clearly not – he had stopped by to thank him and raise a glass to a colleague who was leaving,” Shapps said. He emphasizes that the police have put a lot of time and energy into investigating the parties held by government employees during lockdowns and have drawn conclusions. “We know he was not fined for this event.”
ITV News said Monday that the program released the footage “in the interest of the public”. According to the program, the images cast doubt on Johnson’s previous explanation of ‘party gate’. The prime minister previously told the British Parliament that he was not aware that the corona measures had not always been observed during meetings.
The police in London have handed out a total of 126 fines to British government employees as a result of government parties and drinks at times when strict corona measures were in force in England. The fines relate to a total of eight gatherings between May 2020 and April 2021. Johnson was only fined for a birthday party in 2020.
Top civil servant Sue Gray was previously requested by Johnson to investigate ‘party gate’. Government sources say the full report on the matter may be published this week. “After that, the prime minister will address parliament at length,” a Johnson spokesman told the BBC.
