In his memoir “unleashed,” Boris Johnson claims his initial apology for pandemic rule-breaking was a mistake, insisting it misrepresented his culpability in the partygate affair

Boris Johnson has taken a significant step in the ongoing saga surrounding the Partygate scandal by retracting his previous apology for attending parties that breached COVID-19 regulations. In his upcoming memoir, “Unleashed,” Johnson admits to making a “mistake” with his “blanket apology,” which he labelled as “pathetic” and “grovelling.” He believes this misstep painted his administration as “far more culpable than we were” during a tumultuous time for his government.

The Partygate scandal erupted when it came to light that multiple gatherings were held at Downing Street while the nation grappled with stringent pandemic restrictions. The revelations not only rocked Johnson’s government but ultimately led to his resignation as Prime Minister in 2022 following a wave of ministerial resignations.

Johnson’s reflections come on the heels of a police fine for attending a party, along with subsequent findings that he had misled Parliament regarding his awareness of these gatherings. After facing a committee investigation, Johnson rejected its conclusions and dramatically stepped down as a Member of Parliament.

INDEPENDENT

In a recent ITV interview, Boris Johnson expressed regret over his apology regarding the Partygate scandal, stating it inadvertently legitimized the accusations against officials involved in the lockdown gatherings at Downing Street. He defended the attendees, asserting they did not intend to break the rules during the pandemic.

This interview follows the announcement that Beth Rigby, Sky News’s political editor, withdrew from a planned discussion with Johnson at the Cheltenham Literature Festival due to restrictions on recording the event, marking his second interview loss this week.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer is facing backlash over the UK government’s deal to transfer the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, which has sparked protests from Indigenous Chagossians who feel ignored by the government in the negotiations. Starmer defended the deal, arguing it is essential for the security of the US-UK Diego Garcia military base, amidst increasing tensions and accusations concerning the implications of the agreement for UK sovereignty and international relations.

EXPRESS

In a recent ITV interview, Boris Johnson expressed regret over his apology related to the Partygate scandal, suggesting it detracted from the efforts of officials in Number 10 who worked diligently during the pandemic. When pressed by host Tom Bradby about his views, particularly concerning his apology to the Queen, Johnson remained tight-lipped about specific conversations with Her Majesty.

He elaborated that his initial blanket apology inadvertently legitimized the multitude of accusations directed at his staff, which he believes were unfair. Johnson defended the officials involved, stating they were not intentionally violating rules and emphasized that his apology might have overshadowed their hard work.

This interview coincided with Johnson’s promotion of his new book, where he critiques the government’s handling of the Partygate situation. His comments have sparked debate regarding accountability and the political fallout from the scandal, highlighting ongoing tensions within the Conservative Party as it navigates its response to the public’s perception of leadership during the pandemic.

THE STANDARD

In an interview and excerpts from his upcoming memoir, Unleashed, Boris Johnson has stated that he regrets his initial apology regarding the Partygate scandal. He described his apology as “pathetic” and “grovelling,” suggesting it portrayed him and his administration as more culpable than they actually were. Johnson acknowledged that multiple gatherings at Downing Street during COVID restrictions sparked public outrage and ultimately contributed to his resignation as Prime Minister in July 2022.

He emphasized that his apology inadvertently validated accusations against officials who were diligently working during the pandemic. Johnson asserted, “the blanket apology… made it look as though we were far more culpable than we were,” and he felt it unfairly impacted those who were striving to adhere to the rules.

When pressed about whether he regretted apologising to the late Queen for parties held before Prince Philip’s funeral, he declined to discuss personal conversations with Her Majesty. Johnson maintained that the officials involved did not intend to break the rules and believed they were operating within the guidelines set at the time.