AP.- An investigation published on Wednesday blamed the British prime minister, Boris Johnsonand other senior officials for sanctioning government parties that breached UK lockdown rules by Covid-19. Although Johnson said he took “full responsibility” for the breach, insisted he will not resign.
The revelations that Johnson and its staff repeatedly flouted the restrictions they themselves imposed on the country in 2020 and 2021 have fueled outrage in Britain and have led the opposition to ask that Johnson resigned due to the scandal known as “partygate”.
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Most of the legislators Conservative Partyto which Johnson belongs, have supported him so far, and it is not yet clear whether the long-awaited report from the senior official Sue Gray will change that situation.
The official investigated 16 meetings attended by Johnson and its employees while the British population was banned from social events — including visiting sick and dying relatives — due to coronavirus restrictions.
Gray’s report concluded that “the senior management team … must take responsibility” for a culture that allowed events to take place that “should not have been allowed.”
He added that there were “lacks of leadership and judgment” in the office of Johnson.
“Those in positions of lesser responsibility attended meetings that their superiors attended or even organized,” he added.
A parallel police investigation resulted in fines for 83 people—including Johnson—, which makes him the first head of the British government to be found to have broken the law during his tenure.
Appearing before lawmakers after the report’s release, Johnson He said he took “full responsibility for everything that happened.” She added that she was sorry, but insisted that he did not knowingly break any rules. He assured that he felt “dejected” and that he had “learned a lesson”, but that now was the time to “move on” and focus on boosting the economy.
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The critics, some of their own Johnson’s Conservative Party, claim that the prime minister lied to Parliament about the facts. In Britain, officials who deliberately misinform Parliament are expected to resign.
The British media and opposition politicians have found it difficult to square Johnson’s claims with those reported by members of his team, as they were in fact asked to each bring their own drink. Some of the meetings in the prime minister’s office were labeled “Friday wine nights” at the height of the pandemic.
The leader of the opposition Labor Party, Keir Starmercalled Gray’s report a “catalogue of crimes.” Starmer he said the Johnson government had “treated the sacrifices of the British people with utter contempt.”
Gray’s mandate did not allow him to dictate punishments. Much of his 37-page report is devoted to a detailed account of events, such as a May 2020 garden party at Downing Street to which “the prime minister brought cheese and wine” and a party the following month at which “an individual became ill” and “there was a minor altercation between two other individuals.”
At another party — held the night before the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II’s husband, Prince Philip — participants in a garden broke a swing of Johnson’s young son, Wilf, and partied until 4 a.m.
Johnson has clung to power for now, in part because the Russian invasion of Ukraine diverted public and political attention. Some Conservatives considering calling for a no-confidence motion against their leader decided it would be rash to oust Johnson amid a war destabilizing Europe and fueling a cost-of-living crisis.
The prime minister received some further relief last week when the Metropolitan Police informed him that no further fines will be imposed on him, although he did attend several events under investigation.
Visit: Boris Johnson apologizes to lawmakers for attending a party during the Covid-19 lockdown
Now what Gray and the police have concluded their investigations, Johnson’s fate could be in the hands of his fellow Conservatives, known for ousting those leaders who become a political liability. Conservative lawmakers say they have received messages from angry voters and many are uncomfortable defending Johnson’s rule-breaking.
The conclusions of Gray they could revive calls by Conservative lawmakers for a motion of no confidence in the leader who gave them a large parliamentary majority just two years ago. According to the rules of the party, this vote can be held if 15% of the parliamentarians – who are now 54 people – request it in writing.
If Johnson loses that vote, he would be replaced as Conservative leader and prime minister. It is not clear how many requests have been sent for now.
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