Politics

Pressure piles on PM Johnson as fresh Covid rule breach allegations surface

London, Dec 12 (EFE).- Boris Johnson is coming under increasing pressure amid fresh accusations that he broke Covid-19 rules during a festive quiz last year, marking the end of a torrid week for the British government which has been dogged by the ghosts of Christmas past.

The Sunday Mirror newspaper published a photograph in which Johnson can be seen on a TV screen, flanked by two staff members as he allegedly hosted a Christmas quiz at Downing Street last year.

While the quiz appears to have been done virtually, the newspaper claimed that Downing Street staff were gathered around computers to answer the questions and drink beer and wine.

At that time, on 15 December 2020, London was under so-called Tier 2 restrictions, which banned the mixing of households for social events.

The image comes at the end of the tumultuous week for the prime minister, which kicked off with controversy over an alleged Christmas party held at Downing Street last year with dozens of attendees.

Footage of Downing Street spokeswoman Allegra Stratton laughing as she rehearsed how to deflect questions about the alleged party, which the government denied having taken place, caused a media fury that led to her resignation.

Johnson has taken a temporary step back from the public eye this week following the birth of his second child with wife Carrie Johnson.

The revelations that members of the government may have breached Covid-19 restrictions last year when families were kept apart and nearly 500 people were dying from the disease each day, have seen Johnson’s approval ratings tumble.

The leader of the opposition Labour Party Keir Starmer said Sunday that it looked as though Johnson was breaking the law.

“He’s the worst possible leader at the worst possible time,” he told the BBC.

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