Cogito Ergo Non Serviam
Johnson Sorry for Number 10 Drinks Party
Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologized to the House of Commons a short time ago for attending a drinks party in the garden at Number 10 Downing Street in May of 2021. The attendees were staff and lawmakers who were told to "bring your own booze." On the face of it, this is a violation of the lockdown rules in place at the time. While an internal investigation is underway, the Metropolitan Police are holding off but for how long? Even if the event was within the guidelines, the affair has upset many across the political spectrum. People were dying alone because of the lockdown rules, yet the Tory leadership held a drinks party. The Johnson government's days are numbered.
The PM said, "Mr Speaker, I want to apologise. I know that millions of people across this country have made extraordinary sacrifices over the last 18 months. I know the anguish that they have been through, unable to mourn their relatives, unable to live their lives as they want or to do the things they love."
He also said, "I know the rage they feel with me, and with the government I lead, when they think that in Downing Street itself the rules were not being properly followed by the people who make the rules."
His government is already wobbly from the revelation of a Christmas Party last month at Number 10. This May 20 drinkie-do happened earlier but came to light later. The rage among some is incandesecent.
Robert Booth of the BBC reported, "The Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice campaign has accused Boris Johnson of 'taking the British public for fools' following his statement to MPs."
The spokesperson for that campaign, Hannah Brady, stated, "The prime minister is now a walking public health hazard, who has lost the trust, respect and good faith of the public. If restrictions are needed to protect lives in the future, people will simply laugh at him. He has no moral authority and will cost lives.
"He has broken his own rules and if he had any decency he would now resign, rather than hide behind an internal 'inquiry'. If he doesn’t, his MPs should remove him. They have a moral duty to do so."
This event on its own isn't enough to sink Mr. Johnson. However, this journal believes that Sir Roger Gale, MP, a veteran Conservative backbencher, told "World at One" on Radio 4, "If you look at the twittersphere after prime minister’s question time today, it sounds to me I am afraid very much as though politically the prime minister is a dead man walking." Sir Roger has already sent a letter to the Chairman of the 1922 Committee asking for a leadership challenge. Others are needed but likely to come soon.
Former leader of the Scottish Conservatives Ruth Davidson tweeted, "This line won't survive 48 hrs. Nobody needs an official to tell them if they were at a boozy shindig in their own garden. People are (rightly) furious. They sacrificed so much -- visiting sick or grieving relatives, funerals. What tf were any of these people thinking?" TF would be the definite article followed by an obscenity that rhymes with luck.
Everything is in a holding pattern until Sue Gray, the internal investigator, issues her report. She will not exonerate him, but if nothing worse comes out of it, Mr. Johnson will have some more time. During that time, one is almost certain he will screw up, and that error could be his last as PM. If she finds more, the leadership challenge becomes inevitable. And he may not win.
© Copyright 2022 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Ubuntu Linux.
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