Four of Boris Johnson’s most senior staff quit on Thursday, triggering new turmoil for the embattled British prime minister.
Johnson’s office said chief of staff Dan Rosenfield and principal private secretary Martin Reynolds had both tendered their resignations. Director of Communications Jack Doyle and senior adviser Munira Mirza also said they had left Downing Street.
BORIS JOHNSON UNDER FIRE: REPORT SLAMS ‘SERIOUS FAILURE’ OF UK GOVERNMENT LOCKDOWN PARTIES
Reynolds is a key figure in the “partygate” scandal over lockdown-breaching parties held by Johnson and his staff during the coronavirus pandemic. He sent an invitation to about 100 staff to a “bring your own booze” garden party in May 2020, when Britons were banned from socializing in groups as part of restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The garden gathering is one of 16 alleged parties under investigation by senior civil servant Sue Gray. A dozen of the events are also being investigated by the Metropolitan Police.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits the technology center at Hopwood Hall College, in Middleton, Greater Manchester, England, Thursday Feb. 3, 2022.
(Associated Press)
This week Gray released an interim report looking at the four parties police are not investigating. She found that “failures of leadership and judgment” allowed events to occur that “should not have been allowed to take place” and described a Downing Street operation marked by excessive drinking and dysfunctional dynamics.
LONDON POLICE INVESTIGATING DOWNING STREET LOCKDOWN PARTIES
Johnson has apologized and pledged to fix the problems in his office, but has not admitted personal wrongdoing.
The prime minister’s grip on power has been shaken by revelations that his staff held “bring your own booze” office parties, birthday celebrations and “wine time Fridays” in 2020 and 2021 while millions in Britain were barred from meeting with friends and family.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson…
Source : foxnews
