Boris Johnson has followed Covid rules ‘in his personal life’, says sister Rachel
‘He dotted every ‘i’ and he crossed every ‘t’ – I promise he did’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Boris Johnson’s sister has claimed he followed all Covid rules “in his personal life” since the beginning of the pandemic.
The prime minister has been under huge pressure following claims of social gatherings held at Downing Street, Conservative HQ and government departments while strict curbs were in place last year.
Defending her brother, columnist and commentator Rachel Johnson said he had “dotted every ‘i’ and he crossed every ‘t’” when it came to restrictions with his own family.
“Because he is my brother I have had to see him over the course of lockdown and I have to say every time I’ve seen him … if it was rule of six, he said, ‘We can only be six wherever we are’,” she told LBC.
The prime minister’s sister added: “He dotted every ‘i’ and he crossed every ‘t’ – I promise he did.”
Ms Johnson added that she did not think rule breaking was “going on in his personal life”, adding: “What was going on under his watch looked really bad.”
Earlier this week the prime minister defended a photo of himself and staff with cheese and wine in the No 10 garden at a time of strict curbs on social gatherings last May. “Those were people at work, talking about work,” he said.
The scale of damage done to the PM’s credibility on Covid by a series of revelations about gatherings and after-work drinks at No 10 last year was laid bare by Savanta’s latest survey for The Independent.
Almost three in 10 (28 per cent) also said that they are less likely to follow Covid rules as a result of reports of Christmas parties at Downing Street.
Meanwhile, the latest Redfield & Wilton Strategies poll found that majority of Tory voters at the last general election want Mr Johnson replaced as party leader and prime minister next year.
Some 53 per cent of Tory voters from the 2019 election victory want him ousted, according to the poll for the MailOnline. It found that 27 per cent in favour of a change at No 10, and another 26 per cent “strongly” in favour of the idea.
The PM has seen his personal ratings plummet and his party have lost their poll lead to Labour following the Owen Paterson scandal, claims of government gatherings held last year’s Covid curbs, and remaining questions over the funding of Mr Johnson’s flat.
It emerged earlier this week that the Metropolitan Police has referred itself to the police watchdog over a complaint suggesting its handling of allegations of a party at Downing Street last Christmas could amount to “aiding and abetting a criminal offence”.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments