The first day of COP26 in Glasgow proved to be noteworthy for all the wrong reasons as several world leaders could barely keep their eyes open.
Firstly, US president Joe Biden – who, in fairness, was probably jet-lagged – was caught drifting off as the speeches were clearly struggling to hold the 78-year-old’s attention.
Following suit was the much younger Boris Johnson, who hadn’t flown across the Atlantic to Glasgow but was still photographed with his eyes closed during the event – and without a mask on his face.
While sitting between David Attenborough and United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Johnson looked like he may have succumbed to the land of nod as the seriousness of COP proved perhaps too mentally taxing for his busy schedule.
Whether Johnson was asleep has been disputed.
A quote that was given to The Mirror from Number 10 states that it was “total nonsense” to suggest that the prime minister was asleep and, in all fairness, there are plenty of other photos from the event where Johnson appears to be fully awake and was wearing a mask.
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Regardless of whether he was wide awake or not, this unfortunate photo proved perfect material for anyone wishing to take a swipe at the prime minister, especially due to the lack of a mask.
Time to wake up @borisjohnson the world is burning. Sir David Attenborough is paying attention to the climate crisis, it's time your Government did too #cop26 pic.twitter.com/NwblaibP6n
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) November 1, 2021
Here’s our Prime Minister ‘leading by example’ by sitting without a mask on a global stage in the middle of a pandemic, next to Sir David Attenborough who is 95 years old. If Sir David is, why wouldn’t you? pic.twitter.com/tQdwNmkyz9
— Adil Ray OBE (@adilray) November 1, 2021
It’s one thing to show how little you care but quite another sit next to 95 year old David Attenborough and NOT wear a MASK. #COP26 pic.twitter.com/RiVEbRfDaL
— Anna McMorrin MP 🏴🏳️🌈 (@AnnaMcMorrin) November 1, 2021
“Listen, fellow world leader chaps, we need to carpe diem on this whole climate change kerfuffle, er, tempus fugit and what have you, anyway if you need me I’ll be over there having a little super-spreader kip until the private jet arrives.” pic.twitter.com/dKU5QokH56
— Max Morgan 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ (@SpillerOfTea) November 1, 2021
Takes an extra special kind of dickhead to not wear a mask to protect David fucking Attenborough pic.twitter.com/UwJFBxc3pz
— James Felton (@JimMFelton) November 1, 2021
How much of a prick do you have to be to not wear a mask around national treasure Sir David Attenborough pic.twitter.com/WXvJzpVWAF
— TechnicallyRon (@TechnicallyRon) November 1, 2021
Bored are you?
— Buck Frexit! 🇪🇺💙🌍 #FBPE #FBPA ElectoralReform (@Beany_1) November 1, 2021
And where’s your bloody mask? You said we should wear them in crowded spaces!!
Oh, sorry, maybe you are convivially fraternal with these people you’ve never met
🙄 pic.twitter.com/TNSY72dvFK
Boris Johnson fast asleep at the most important conference ever, and the only person without a mask.. FFS!! What a moron.. and OMG!! He’s sitting next to Sir David Attenborough pic.twitter.com/B2lPbbtgDZ
— ARTIST TAXI DRIVER (@chunkymark) November 2, 2021
The point of wearing a face mask is mainly to protect those around you. It shows you care for others. Johnson not wearing one, especially sat next to a national treasure like Attenborough says it all. pic.twitter.com/Fq8QO0DcKB
— HappyToast ★ (@IamHappyToast) November 1, 2021
Either nobody else has heard that you can't catch Covid from your friends, or they aren't my friends.#COP26 pic.twitter.com/2mo8rEGztv
— Parody Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson_MP) November 1, 2021
Mind. Boggled. pic.twitter.com/TkrTSQPdrd
— Bill Turnbull (@billtu) November 2, 2021
Johnson had earlier spoken to the crowd at COP26 where he quoted Greta Thunberg despite the world-renowned climate activist not being formally invited to speak at the event.
Thunberg was later spotted singing “you can stick climate crisis up a**e’.
In a statement, a Downing Street spokesperson said: “The prime minister has abided by the Covid-19 guidance at COP26 throughout. Attendees and delegates are not required to wear a face mask when they are seated as per the COP26 guidance.”
