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The pressure on the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is growing: He has to take a stand on the allegations of his former chief adviser Dominic Cummings.
After the renovation of his apartment on Downing Street, financed by private donations, was initially the focus, a quote that was perceived as cynical is now making the rounds.
If this quote is true, the prime minister must resign, wrote TV host Piers Morgan, and posted the front page of the Daily Mail, which headlined the alleged Johnson statement.
"No more fucking lockdowns - let the bodies pile high in their thousands!" have said unwanted) second lockdown.
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Ultimately, however, it came: In October 2020, Johnson announced that the UK would have to close shops and restaurants again for four weeks from November 5.
Schools and universities, however, remained open.
The alleged statement was apparently spread again by former consultant Dominic Cummings, who was divorced in the dispute, reports the "Daily Mail".
In a first statement, Downing Street denied the facts.
The quote was not there, everything would be just "another lie" by the former close employee of the premier, as reported by "Sky News", among other things.
Defense Secretary Ben Wallace also jumped in Johnson: That this quote had ever been used has meanwhile been denied by "practically everyone" of those involved.
On his website, Cummings is constantly attacking Johnson
Cummings had already attacked Johnson violently in a post on his website on Friday.
Among other things, he reported extensively on the British Prime Minister's plans to raise private donors for the renovation of his apartment on Downing Street.
At the time, he refused to help Johnson with these plans, telling him that they were "unethical, foolish and possibly illegal," wrote Cummings.
In 2019 they were still a team: Dominic Cummings and Boris Johnson (front)
Source: AFP
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He also accused Johnson of having blocked an internal investigation into a leak in connection with corona measures because the person responsible was a close friend of his fiancée Carrie Symonds.
The allegations could have consequences for the prime minister: Labor MP Jess Phillips confirmed her party's plans on Sunday on Sky News channel to put an urgency request on the allegations in parliament next week.
Johnson's Secretary of Commerce Liz Truss stood up for her party colleague: She had been assured that all rules had been fully observed in all cases.
The allegations are "gossip", which distracts from the important issues that interest the British, she told the broadcaster, also on Sunday.
A tweet to James Dyson is circulating
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Johnson's office also denied the allegations, stating that all "reportable donations" would be transparently disclosed. In addition, the Prime Minister "never interfered in an investigation into leaks in the government". In a written statement to Parliament on Friday, a government representative assured that Johnson had borne the renovation costs “out of pocket”. It remained open whether he might have repaid donations.
The background to this is confidential text messages from Johnson, which, among other things, concern a request from entrepreneur James Dyson for tax breaks if he takes part in the production of ventilators in Great Britain.
After weeks of reports of potentially inappropriate influence from other government officials, concerns are growing that the allegations could seriously damage Johnson's current popularity.
Once the mastermind behind the Brexit slogan "Take back control": Dominic Cummings
Source: AFP
Cummings' accusations dominated the front pages of newspapers over the weekend, before the latest leak.
Some conservatives also joined the criticism.
Former attorney general and longtime opponent of the prime minister, Dominic Grieve, accused Johnson of being a “vacuum of integrity”.
The electoral commission, which regulates donations to political parties and their expenses, has meanwhile confirmed that it is investigating the matter.
But where is the leak?
Cummings left his post as Johnson's chief advisor last December.
He is considered one of the architects of Johnson's 2016 Brexit campaign and was largely responsible for Johnson's overwhelming election victory in December 2019.
At the same time, however, Cummings repeatedly caused controversy with his confrontational style of politics.
According to media reports, there should have repeatedly been considerable disputes in the cabinet about the role of the advisor.
With his all-round blow against Johnson, Cummings now fought against reports in the media that he was behind the transmission of Johnson's cell phone chats.
It is "sad to see how deeply the Prime Minister and his office fall below the standards of competence and integrity that the country deserves," wrote Cummings on his blog.
According to a report in the Sunday Times, Johnson may have personally informed the newspaper editors about Cummings as a “leak”. Apparently he disregarded his advisors, who had warned him against this "suicidal" step.