British Prime Minister Boris JohnsonLONDON, Jan 15Downing Street staff have been holding «wine Fridays» throughout the pandemic, with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson regularly attending these gatherings, according to Britain's Mirror newspaper. «The regular event was so popular that staff even invested in a £142 beverage cooler to keep bottles of white wine, prosecco and beer cool,» the publication writes, and shares a photo of the fridge being delivered via back door on Downing Street on December 11, 2020. Sources say assistants took turns visiting a Tesco store in Westminster on Fridays with a trolley to fill a 34-bottle refrigerator.
Video of Boris Johnson dancing has angered Britons «Wine Fridays» is a long-standing Downing Street tradition designed to help employees relax at the end of a busy week. However, the events continued even after coronavirus restrictions were put in place. According to him, employees from other parts of the building periodically joined the parties organized by the press service of the office. In particular, sources say that one of the constant participants in the “Wine Fridays” during the lockdown period was Captain Steve Higham, then adviser to the Prime Minister on defense matters, who now commands the new aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy Prince of Wales. held in violation of the rules, senior civil servant Sue Gray is investigating. Reports that parties were held at the government residence on Downing Street during the national lockdown appeared in December last year. However, in recent days, the scandal has gained momentum when it became known about other mass festivities. Prime Minister Boris Johnson was forced to issue a public apology in Parliament for attending an event on May 20, 2020, saying he considered it a worker. The opposition is already demanding his resignation. The situation worsened when it was revealed that two more farewell parties were on April 16, 2021 — on the eve of the funeral of Prince Philip, when restrictions were still in place in Britain and national mourning was declared in the country. Queen Elizabeth II, due to current restrictions, had to sit alone at a memorial service in the church. On Friday, the cabinet had to apologize to the royal family.
