• MILITARY: Brazil-France submarine programme (Graphic DUE Mar 28, 15:00GMT)
  • SPACE: Calls for protected moon sites (Graphic DUE Mar 28, 16:00GMT)
  • ACCIDENT: Why did Baltimore bridge collapse? (Graphic DUE Mar 28, 17:30GMT)
  • For full details of graphics available/in preparation, see Menu -> Planners
 10 Downing Street “Partygate” scandal infographic
Graphic shows the garden at 10 Downing Street where an alleged garden party took place during a national Covid lockdown.
GN42189EN

POLITICS

British PM under pressure over garden party fiasco

By Ninian Carter

January 11, 2022 - Boris Johnson is facing fresh scrutiny after Britain’s ITV News claimed a party took place in the garden of 10 Downing Street, breaking strict Covid lockdown rules in place at the time.

A new scandal is brewing during Boris Johnson tempestuous premiership, which threatens to blow up in his face if he doesn’t handle it with care.

According to ITV News, on May 20, 2020, at a time when Covid lockdown rules forbid outside gatherings from different households by more than two people, Martin Reynolds, the Prime Minister’s Principal Private Secretary, invited 100 people by email to attend a garden party at 10 Downing Street.

In the leaked email, Reynolds writes:
“Hi all, after what has been an incredibly busy period we thought it would be nice to make the most of the lovely weather and have some socially distanced drinks in the No 10 garden this evening. Please join us from 6pm and bring your own booze!”

ITV says that around 40 people accepted the invitation, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie Johnson.

Johnson is still reeling from a photograph published by The Guardian newspaper in December that showed him, his wife and at least 17 staff having drinks in No.10’s garden on May 15 – just 5 days before the latest alleged party took place.

Johnson is declining to comment, despite opposition parties and bereaved families demanding he comes clean.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 11/01/2022; STORY: Graphic News; PICTURES: Getty Images
Advertisement