Boris Johnson will hold a farewell party for his supporters at Chequers this weekend, according to reports. The prime minister will welcome guests to the Buckinghamshire country residence on Sunday, a source told Sky News.
"The invitation comes from Mr and Mrs Johnson," the source told Sky. "It is their farewell bash at Chequers this weekend. Partners and children are all invited."
Downing Street did not deny the reports on Friday afternoon. Asked whether Mr Johnson is hosting a party for supporters at Chequers this weekend, a No 10 spokesman said: “As is usual practice, any political events would be for my political colleagues, it wouldn’t be a question for me, but I confirmed that the PM will be in Chequers over the weekend.”
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It comes after Labour criticised the prime minister for not attending the government's Cobra meetings amid an unprecedented heatwave. Ministers will hold a second emergency Cobra meeting, chaired by Cabinet Office minister Kit Malthouse, today after meteorologists warned of record high temperatures in England that could put lives at risk.
Downing Street was unable to say whether the prime minister would join in with the discussions over the weekend. A No 10 spokesman said: “Cobra met [on Thursday] and officials from across government will continue to meet regularly both today and throughout the weekend.” Asked if the PM is involved, the spokesman said: “As always the Prime Minister is kept up to date with all the latest information.”
Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader, said: “Boris Johnson has gone missing in action again. He’s back to his old tricks of skipping important Cobra meetings. Where’s the plan for the delivery of essential services and how people will be kept safe at work, on transport, in schools, hospitals and care homes? The public will have no confidence in this zombie Conservative government responding swiftly and decisively to this national emergency as this disgraced Prime Minister prepares to party while Britain boils.”
Shortly after Mr Johnson announced his resignation earlier this month, reports emerged that he and wife Carrie Johnson had been planning a wedding celebration at the country estate. The pair, who married in a small private ceremony at Westminster Cathedral last year, planned to have a larger celebration this year, when coronavirus restrictions were likely to be relaxed.
They were said to have sent save-the-date cards to family and friends for a celebration at Chequers on July 30. It had been suggested that Mr Johnson wanted to stay on as a caretaker prime minister in part to see this through – although this claim was denied by Downing Street. It is now understood that the pair are planning to move the wedding to a different location.
The 16th-century Buckinghamshire mansion and its 1,000-acre estate in the Chilterns were gifted a century ago to whoever holds the office of prime minister as a retreat from the bustle of Downing Street. It was bequeathed to the nation in 1917 by Sir Arthur Lee, an MP and director-general of food production, and Lloyd George became its first prime ministerial occupant in 1921.
As set out in the Chequers Estate Act 1917, it was hoped to draw the sitting PM to “spend two days a week in the high and pure air of the Chiltern hills and woods”. The thinking behind that being “the better the health of our rulers the more sanely will they rule”.
Photographic portraits of all the British prime ministers who have used the residence are on display in the Great Parlour. Visitors over the years have ranged from the Queen, to foreign leaders such as Russian leader Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, and celebrities including Sir Elton John, Bryan Adams and David Bowie.
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