[BR]
The new revelations come a day after photos of the British prime minister holding a glass of booze at a gathering of colleagues in a Number 10 room and possibly a day before the release (on Wednesday) of state official Sue Gray's full report into partygate.
The three BBC sources describe on condition of anonymity a culture of regular social gatherings in Downing Street even in the midst of a lockdown, with frequent drinking and raucous parties sometimes lasting until very late, with some attendees staying overnight in the building housing the Prime Minister's office.
They say they felt it was all done with the implicit permission of the prime minister himself, as he often had a drink with them before going up from his office to his apartment at Number 11 Downing Street.
"Didn't he say You can all disperse and go home? Can you keep your social distances? Can everyone put on their masks? No, he wasn't telling anyone that. He was grabbing a glass for himself."
They also say that when they heard the Prime Minister deny that there had been parties in Downing Street they looked at each other in disbelief and asked why, when they all knew the rules had been broken.
Mr Johnson was fined by the Metropolitan Police for attending a party in the Cabinet Room, but not for other gatherings, including the one at which he was photographed with a drink in his hand.
For that party, on 13 November 2020, which was a farewell party for the Prime Minister's Office communications manager Lee Kane, the complainants say there were at least 30 people packed into a room, with some sitting on the knees of others, with no distance between them. Mr Johnson also made a brief farewell speech for his partner.
At the party on the eve of Prince Philip's funeral on April 16, 2021, Downing Street security asked attendees to go out into the garden due to excessive noise, according to reports.
The three sources also describe how some people began making fun of a Downing Street security guard who asked them to stop a party because it was not allowed, how on everyone's agenda was a standing drink date in a Downing Street room every Friday at 4 p.m., and how the building's trash cans were often overflowing with empty bottles and glasses.
The three admit that their behaviour, at a time when civilians were dying alone from coronavirus, was "inexcusable."
Source: skai.gr
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
