The former Prime Minister Sir John Major has blasted Boris Johnson and accused him of breaking the law with countless lockdown parties in Downing Street.
Sir John said that Johnson has corroded trust in politics by “foolish behaviour” and if the Prime Minister is found to have misled Parliament then he should stand down.
During his speech Sir John said, “At No.10, the Prime Minister and officials broke lockdown laws.
“Brazen excuses were dreamed up. Day after day the public was asked to believe the unbelievable.
“Ministers were sent out to defend the indefensible, making themselves look gullible or foolish.
“Collectively, this has made the government look distinctly shifty…unfortunately, that trust is being lost, and our reputation overseas has fallen because of our conduct.
“We are weakening our influence in the world.”
Sir John has been a long standing critic of Johnson and slammed him for giving the public evasive answers in the House of Commons to MPs and during interviews.
He warned, “Trust in politics is at a low ebb, eroded by foolish behaviour, leaving a sense of unease about how our politics is being conducted.
“Too often, Ministers have been evasive, and the truth has been optional.
“When Ministers respond to legitimate questions with pre-prepared soundbites, or half-truths, or misdirection, or wild exaggeration, then respect for government and politics dies a little more.
“Misleading replies to questions invite disillusion.
“Outright lies breed contempt.
“In our democracy, we are able to speak truth to power. But if democracy is to be respected, power must also speak truth to the people.
“And yet, in recent years, they have not been doing so.”
Later on in his speech, Sir John appeared to make reference that the Prime Minister is avoiding ministerial standards and the dangers of him making up his own rules.
He said, “The Prime Minister and our present government not only challenge the law, but also seem to believe that they and they alone need not obey the rules, traditions, conventions, call them what you will, of public life.
“The charge that there is one law for the government, and one for everyone else is politically deadly, and it has struck home.”
Yet again Johnson dodged questions today whilst in Brussels as he was asked will he resign if he is found guilty to breaking the law and is issued with a fine by Scotland Yard.
The Prime Minister who was at a press conference after talks at the NATO HQ dodged the question and reverted back to his familiar line, “That process must be completed and I’m looking forward to it being completed and that’s the time to say more on that.”
Johnson is expected to among more than 50 people in Downing Street and Whitehall who are to receive legal questionnaires from detectives.
Human rights barrister Adam Wagner who is an expert on Covid-19 rules, said the sending out of questionnaires is “very significant because it appears that the police at least think that they’re getting towards the point where they can start issuing fixed penalty notices.”
He added, “So, if he was given a fixed penalty notice for each and every one of those, I think that he would be given those sort of cumulative amounts until eventually the final one would be £6,400.
“So overall, and assuming there isn’t a big £10,000 one for hosting a gathering in the flat of over 30 people, he could still be in line for over £10,000 worth of fixed penalty notices if they accumulate.”
Leave a Comment