[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] It has been revealed that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was found to have attended parties during the COVID-19 lockdown, also held his own birthday party during the first lockdown.
According to the BBC on the 24th (local time), the UK Prime Minister's Office admitted that around 30 staff members gathered at the Prime Minister's Office in June 2020 during the lockdown to hold a birthday party for the Prime Minister. At that time, indoor gatherings were prohibited under lockdown regulations.
Earlier, UK ITV reported that Carrie Johnson, who was then Johnson's fianc?e, led about 30 staff members and the official residence's interior designer to hold a surprise party for the Prime Minister's 56th birthday. It was reported that they ate food and sang birthday songs for 20 to 30 minutes at the Prime Minister's Office.
The Prime Minister's Office acknowledged the allegations as true and stated that Johnson stayed for 10 minutes. However, they denied reports that a separate birthday party with friends was held at the Prime Minister's residence that same evening.
The UK Cabinet Office is currently investigating 12 parties held within the government during the COVID-19 lockdown period, including the garden drinking party at the residence attended by Johnson in May 2020 and the Prime Minister's Office Christmas party in December 2020.
Johnson is facing a resignation crisis due to the 'party scandal' involving multiple violations of COVID-19 prevention regulations. Sue Gray, Director of the Cabinet Office's Propriety and Ethics Team, which is investigating Johnson's breaches of prevention guidelines, stated, "I was already aware of the birthday party in question."
Director Gray is expected to announce the results of the investigation into Johnson's violations of prevention guidelines later this week.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
