Boris Johnson apologizes after his supporters caught jokes about the closing parties

Boris Johnson has apologized “without reservation” for a video he released that showed his supporters laughing at Christmas parties on Downing Street during the closing ceremony, as the Prime Minister prepares to unveil new coronavirus bans.

Speaking at the House of Commons on Wednesday, Johnson said Secretary-General Simon Case had investigated media reports that a party rally had been held in Downing Street on December 18 last year when London was strictly banned by Covid-19, and such parties were banned.

Meanwhile Whitehall officials told the Financial Times that Johnson had decided to introduce a ban on the so-called system B coronavirus in England, including ordering them to work from home and the need for vaccination passports at large locations.

A number of people quoted briefly say that the party took place at No. 10 on December 18 last year. Johnson asserted that no such party had taken place.

But a government video obtained by ITV News about a mock press conference on Downing Street on December 22 last year showed Allegra Stratton, Johnson’s press secretary, being questioned about whether Christmas parties had taken place.

“I went home,” he laughed, before telling his friends to “catch up”. “What’s the answer?” Stratton asked the attendants. One said: “It was not a party, it was cheese and wine.

Johnson said in a Prime Minister’s question to Commons: “I understand and share the anger around the world at seeing number 10 employees seem to be ignoring the blockchain, and I understand how it should irritate them to think that people have been enforcing the law because I was angry at the clip.

“I am very sorry for the mistakes that have caused the whole world and I apologize for what it is showing.”

He also said he had been repeatedly told following media reports that there was no Downing Street party, and that no Covid-19 rules had been violated.

Johnson said any evidence related to the Case investigation would be provided to the Metropolitan Police.

But the interview does not review the reports of other Downing Street parties on November 13 and November 27.

Former education secretary Gavin Williamson says he also held a Christmas party at his former department in December last year. A spokesman for the department confirmed that the “meeting” took place and apologized.

Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer accused Johnson of “adopting stupid people” at Downing Street parties, saying the truth was “sound like a day”.

“They knew there was a party, they knew it was illegal, they knew they wouldn’t approve, and they thought it was funny,” Starmer told the MP.

Criminal media reports and government officials have feared that the introduction of new coronavirus vaccines could be disrupted.

Johnson’s expectations for the new system show a growing concern for the widespread spread of the new Omicron coronavirus, but officials have said they want to resume work after days of media coverage of Downing Street parties.

One said the B-ready move, much earlier than expected, was Johnson’s “dead cat” to distract more attention from the video released.

The ministers of the Covid-19 committee on government should meet to consider the proposal.

The new ban could be announced at a press conference later Wednesday, with legislation due to be tabled in parliament on Thursday, depending on local government.

Johnson told lawmakers that “no decision can be made without consulting the cabinet”, but did not deny that some things could happen.

The expectation of strong sanctions pushed 0.4 pounds down to $ 1.318, its weakest annual stake against the dollar.

Recent bans may have angered Conservative councilors who are skeptical.

William Wragg, chairman of the Conservative on the State and Civil Law Committee, described the introduction of vaccine passports as a “transition process” from the Downing Street parties.

Neil Ferguson, one of the world’s leading scientists on coronavirus, said Omicron cases were increasingly “at least every three days” and could deal with the Delta type of coronavirus by Christmas.

Additional reports by Tommy Stubbington