Keir Sternmer claims Boris Johnson is first prime minister to violate law in office.
Labour leader Keir Starmer has defended his party’s focus on Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s violation of lockdown rules. During a Sunday BBC interview, the politician argued Johnson’s own party is equally sick of its leader, declaring the PM’s “The country’s authority is taken away.”
Labour leader Keir Starmer has defended his party’s focus on Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s violation of lockdown rules during a Sunday BBC interview. The politician argued Johnson’s own party is equally sick of its leader, declaring the PM’s “The country’s authority is taken away.”
Labour couldn’t just gloss over Johnson’s violations, Starmer noted, pointing out: “They have been found to have broken the law – the criminal law at that. In the entire history of the country, no other prime minister has been accused of breaking the law while in office. And I don’t think we can just pass over it.”
Johnson’s own party “don’t really want to defend him because they’re sick of defending the indefensible,” Starmer continued, echoing the words of conservative MP William Wragg, who recently submitted a letter of no confidence in Johnson’s leadership.
Starmer also argued that Johnson’s own party was turning on him as some senior conservative MPs, including Mark Harper and Steve Baker, have called for his ouster. Harper specifically told the prime minister he was “Unworthy” of holding the office, while Baker openly asked Johnson to step down last week, declaring “It’s time to get on board.”
Johnson has already admitted to attending the controversial and illegal May 2020 gathering, though he insists he believed the event, which was described on his calendar as a “Drinks that are socially distant” party, was a “work event.” However, it remains unclear how much he has been fined or otherwise punished over the incident. Although at least one partygoer has been given a Fixed Penalty Notification, 10 Downing said that Johnson was not fined.
The Metropolitan Police have not made public the other fines issued by them in connection to Partygate. This will be done after the May elections. Meanwhile, many in Johnson’s party are struggling to distance themselves from him, lest the scandal hurt their chances in the upcoming vote. “Better than the current situation is a broomstick,” one MP quipped, suggesting any leader would be preferable to the scandal-plagued Johnson.
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However, conservative party co-chair Oliver Dowden has come to Johnson’s defense, claiming there is a “Very strong arguments for his continued office.” The PM had gotten “those big calls right” and led with “Real energy and determination,” Dowden insisted, suggesting that changing leadership at this point would be “This country is extremely vulnerable.”
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