Boris Johnson caught up again by the “partygate” affair.

The administration's report delivered to the British Prime Minister on Wednesday criticizes the lack of leadership and judgment he has shown and which has led to several parties being held at 10 Downing Street in the midst of strict confinement due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

If the head of the British Conservative government had seemed in recent weeks in a position to overcome the "partygate" scandal likely to dislodge him from power, the affair was relaunched this week by the publication, in the media, of damning testimonies and photos. for Boris Johnson.

After the police sanctions last week, it was the senior civil servant Sue Gray, deemed intractable, who delivered her conclusions in a report detailing, event by event, e-mails and photos in support, what was taking place in the corridors of power while the British were forced to make heavy sacrifices.

Without naming those responsible or recommending sanctions, she blames the power at the highest level for these events which "should not have been allowed to happen".

“It is also true that some of the less experienced officials believed that their participation in some of these events was permissible, given the presence of senior leaders. Senior leaders, whether political or official, must take responsibility for this culture," she said.

"I take full responsibility"

The question now is whether these new elements will be sufficient to rekindle anger within the majority, a appeased time, or even to demonstrate that the head of government has lied to Parliament, which could hasten his departure.

Boris Johnson spoke to Parliament on the subject.

"I take full responsibility for everything that happened under my leadership," the Conservative leader told MPs, renewing his apologies.

After seeing his popularity drop during the winter due to the "partygate", Boris Johnson managed to straighten his image by showing himself at the forefront of Western support for Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion.

His party, however, suffered heavy losses in local elections in early May, tarnishing the image of a winning machine at the ballot box that has long protected the former mayor of London.

And historic inflation is fueling discontent.

The government must announce a new plan to help households strangled by soaring energy bills, which the opposition has linked to the desire to forget the "partygate".

The threat of a motion of no confidence

This day marks the end of a long suspense on the work of Sue Gray, long delayed by the parallel launch of a police investigation.

The latter ended last week by revealing the extent of the violations of the anti-Covid rules imposed by Downing Street in response to the pandemic which has killed nearly 180,000 people in the United Kingdom.

A total of 126 fines were issued for breaches in eight events, including one to Boris Johnson himself for a surprise birthday drink in June 2020. This record was still seen as relatively lenient for the Prime Minister, who had participated in seemingly more serious gatherings.

Boris Johnson apologized when he received the fine but refused to resign.

But if the new elements published convince more than fifty members of the majority to let go of him, he risks finding himself targeted by a motion of no confidence, almost three years after his triumphant arrival in Downing Street in the midst of the psychodrama of Brexit.

The report could also fuel accusations of lies that will be examined by another planned investigation, this one parliamentary.

If the latter concludes that he knowingly lied in the gallery of the House of Commons by claiming not to have broken the rules, he is supposed to resign.

Criticism from the opposition, who were strongly calling for his resignation, however, has waned since police opened an investigation into Labor leader Keir Starmer.

The latter has promised to resign if the police fine him for violating anti-Covid rules during a campaign trip in 2021 during which he ordered curries and beers for his team.

With AFP

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