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From The Socialist newspaper, 12 January 2022
Shameless Johnson partied through lockdown
Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak. Photo: Andrew Parsons,10 Downing Street/CC (Click to enlarge)
The proverb 'do as I say, not as I do' could have been written by Tory PM Boris Johnson during the course of the Covid pandemic.
His latest disgrace concerns the drinks soiree in the garden of 10 Downing Street during the most severe lockdown restrictions on gatherings in May 2020. He was pictured enjoying a glass of wine surrounded by his partner and party apparatchiks. But Johnson steadfastly denies flouting the then social-distancing rules which prohibited mixing with multiple households.
However, it now transpires that a close aide to Johnson, Martin Reynolds, issued an invite to 100 staff to "make the most of the lovely weather" with "some socially distanced drinks". In the event, some 40 turned out for the picnic and booze-up.
At the time hundreds of people every day were dying from Covid infections. This motley crew of 'rulers' has no shame.
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In The Socialist 12 January 2022:
News
Super-rich get richer, while we can't make ends meet. Join the fightback!
Blow to establishment as jury backs Colston Four
Covid, stress and cutbacks fuel school staff shortages
Tories concede under cladding pressure but don't go far enough
Low pay, stress and Covid drive: NHS staff crisis
Shameless Johnson partied through lockdown
Energy price crisis: nationalise energy giants to save us from £600 hit
Energy bosses: 'Jump, cuddle and eat porridge while we raise prices'
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan: Working-class revolt only suppressed by massive mobilisation of troops
Solidarity with workers protesting in Kazakhstan
Campaigns news
Protests against BBC transphobia
Leeds People's Budget: We beat council cuts before, we will again
Communities fight back against Rio Tinto mine
North London NHS - "It's going to be us who saves it"
Southampton student vote for online exams must be accepted
Workplace news
Coventry bin workers' pay strike
10,000 tube workers vote to strike over jobs, terms and pension cuts
East Mids rail conductors force concessions, train managers' dispute continues
Carmarthenshire gritters take action as Plaid-led council reneges on agreement
Jobcentre Coronavirus outbreak leads to reps meeting call
South Yorkshire bus strikes spreading and getting stronger
Weetabix workers defeat 'fire and rehire' and ballot on improved pay offer
Invergordon Royal Mail mutiny wins
Reviews
Don't Look Up: An entertaining satire on corporate power and the US establishment
Anne: Hillsborough and the fight for justice
Money Heist: A Robin Hood tale set in modern-day capitalism
Readers' opinion
War criminal Tony Blair knighted
Bullying weighing room culture at the races
Free prescriptions? Maybe when you're older
Obituaries
Obituary - Ethan Bradley 1993-2021
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