Former UK PM John Major accused Boris Johnson of breaking Covid laws

British ex-premier John Major on Thursday accused Prime Minister Boris Johnson of breaking Covid laws, fostering public “contempt” for politics and shredding the UK’s reputation abroad.

The unusually blunt attack from the Conservative grandee underlined the political jeopardy Johnson faces over a “partygate” scandal, with several lawmakers from the ruling party calling publicly for his resignation.

Police are now reviewing a Christmas 2020 event in Downing Street, after the Daily Mirror printed a photo of Johnson and two colleagues — one draped in tinsel — near an open bottle of sparkling wine.

On a visit to NATO headquarters in Brussels, Johnson was asked if he would resign if he is fined by police for breaching Covid restrictions on social gatherings.

“That process must be completed and I’m looking forward to it being completed, and that’s the time to say more on that,” he told reporters.

On a later visit to Warsaw, Johnson said that Major’s assertion that he had damaged the UK’s standing was “demonstrably untrue”, pointing to his diplomatic efforts on Ukraine.

Major, prime minister from 1990 to 1997, stopped short himself of demanding that Johnson step down, but said any other leader found to have deliberately misled parliament would feel compelled to quit.

“At Number 10, the prime minister and officials broke lockdown laws. Brazen excuses were dreamed up,” he said in a speech to the Institute for Government think-tank.

“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 as they did so,” he said.

“Collectively, this has made the government look distinctly shifty, which has consequences that go far beyond political unpopularity.”

Britain’s international reputation was now “shredded”, Major said, accusing Johnson of undermining peace in Northern Ireland by failing to understand what he signed up for with Brexit.

ALSO READ:

• Covid-19: UK police to contact 50 people over Downing Street lockdown parties

• UK opposition leader mobbed outside parliament by anti-lockdown protesters

• UK PM Johnson sang 'I will survive' to new communications director

• UK PM Johnson appoints Steve Barclay as chief of staff

“Too often ministers have been evasive and the truth has seemed to be optional,” he added. “Outright lies breed contempt.”

Major is the second of Johnson’s Conservative predecessors in the post to criticise him over the “partygate” revelations.

Last week, Theresa May told parliament a civil servant’s report into the events showed that Downing Street “was not observing the regulations they had imposed on members of the public”.

Downing Street said in response: “These allegations are categorically untrue and a clear misrepresentation of the facts.”