Boris Johson has been branded a ‘political animal’ after Sue Gray published her highly-anticipated report into the Partygate scandal earlier today.
Ms. Gray, a senior civil servant, investigated 16 events at which the police found multiple breaches of Covid-19 rules during the pandemic, and concluded that there were "failures of leadership and judgement in No 10 and the Cabinet Office". And now the people of Wirral have had their say on the report’s findings and shared their thoughts on what the future should hold for the Prime Minister.
Mo Green, 75, from Birkenhead, told the ECHO: “He is a political animal. He’s never done anything good in his life. This is a disgrace. You must not lie to the House of Commons, that's the first rule of politics. Nobody is above the law. He has to go.”
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Mo’s sentiments were echoed by fellow Birkenhead resident Dave Burrows, 62, who said: “He’s got more faces than a town hall clock. All you want from a politician is for them to tell you the truth. When you lie, and it’s found out that you’re lying, it's just beyond belief.”
Speaking in the House of Commons earlier today, Boris Johnson said that he hopes the country will be “able to move on and focus on the priorities of the British people”. But Kevin Goodman, 63, from Chester, believes that it will be difficult for the public to let the incident go.
He said: “I think he needs to resign personally. He’s been guilty all along and has told lie after lie. These people making the rules are supposed to set an example, and he’s the biggest rule breaker of all.”
Alan Clark, 74, from Hoylake also thinks that this should be the end of the road for the PM. He told the ECHO: “He’s got to go. They’ve got to put pressure on him to go.”
One of the events explored in Ms. Gray’s report was a "socially-distanced garden party" for around 200 staff members at Downing Street, arranged by senior civil servant Martin Reynolds. WhatsApp messages published in the report revealed that Mr Reynolds later referred to the event by stating, "we seem to have got away with" it.
And it’s this lack of transparency from those inside Number 10 that has led Bobby Ross, 64, from Birkenhead and wife, Bernie, 67, to call for the Prime Minister’s resignation. Bobby said: "He should go. He’s dishonest and he’s not going to stick to anything he says. He should definitely go. He’s always coming up with excuses.”
However, one Wirral resident feels that, despite her fury at Partygate, there are more important matters that the government should now focus on. Andrea, from Hoylake, told the ECHO: “When this first came out, I was apoplectic with the lies and the double standards. As time has gone on, with Ukraine and all the other things that have gone on, my feelings have tempered down a bit. Now, I’m not surprised because you look at his face and he’s a liar. Of course, I expect more from the Prime Minister, but I don’t expect more from him.”
