The Prime Minister is partying while the UK swelters in the sunshine, as he prepares to host a lavish goodbye bash at Chequers tomorrow. Boris Johnson missed his second emergency meeting in a row on Saturday, leaving Cabinet Office Minister Kit Malthouse to deal with the record temperatures expected across the UK.
Invites have gone out to a 'leaving do' at the PM's taxpayer-funded country house in Buckinghamshire, which has an indoor swimming pool, reports The Mirror. Labour members accused Mr Johnson of being "missing in action", pointing to his apparent track record for partying during times of crisis.
Mr Johnson missed five Cobra meetings while the UK Government tried to prepare for the Covid-19 pandemic. He defended attending leaving parties for Downing Street staff throughout the pandemic, when indoor gatherings were banned.
Public outrage over rule-breaking parties in Downing Street played a key part in his downfall - being dubbed 'Partygate'. A spokeswoman said tomorrow's party was "a private event with no taxpayers' money being spent."
The spokeswoman declined to say who had been invited to the party. Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said: "Boris Johnson has gone missing in action again."
She added: "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. If he still can’t take the responsibility of the job, he should leave right now.”
Mr Johnson and wife Carrie were this month forced to scrap plans to hold a delayed wedding reception at Chequers after a fierce backlash. The couple had planned a party at the grace and favour mansion later this month to mark their marriage.
It has been claimed the party was part of the reason Mr Johnson wanted to cling on to his premiership. However, the couple said the wedding party would now be held elsewhere - and is not thought to be the same as the party planned for tomorrow.
It comes as the PM was urged not to "skive off" in his last week at work, amid rumours he planned to skip his final PMQs this Wednesday. It's the latest of a number of criticisms of Mr Johnson's time as PM, having been accused of presiding over a "zombie government" with a string of Cabinet ministers failing to turn up to key engagements.
However, insiders have insisted the PM plans to appear in the commons as scheduled for his final round of questioning from MPs - and there are “no plans currently” for him to be out of the country this week. Rumours began to spread that Mr Johnson would miss his final clash with Keir Starmer, after hinting that last week's session "could be his last".
“The next leader of my party may be elected by acclamation, so it’s possible this will be our last confrontation... it’s possible,” he said. Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: "If Boris Johnson does skip PMQs next week then it's just further proof that he’s already checked out as Prime Minister, content to cash in on all the perks but do none of the work.”
Home Secretary Priti Patel was due to appear before the Home Affairs committee on Wednesday, but cancelled the night before, causing anger. Justice Secretary Dominic Raab was set to attend the Joint Committee on Human Rights next week.
And Labour’s Wes Streeting branded his Tory opposite number, new health secretary Steve Barclay “the invisible man”, saying: "You have been Secretary of State for Health and Social Care for 10 days now, but you are yet to say anything about the heatwave and unprecedented pressures our emergency services are facing."
Located in the Buckinghamshire countryside, the Chequers estate boasts 1,000 acres of land and the mansion house features 10 bedrooms and a heated pool. It also houses a vast art collection, with 190 pieces dating from the early 16th century.
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