The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)

Johnson booed on way in and out of St Paul’s

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The prime minister received a mix of cheering and boos from onlookers as he entered St Paul’s Cathedral for the service of thanksgivi­ng.

Boris Johnson arrived at the cathedral in a black Range Rover and walked up the steps with wife Carrie to attend the event yesterday.

But while a number of people could be heard applauding and cheering as the couple ascended the staircase, others could be heard booing.

The prime minister was also heckled and booed more as he left the service, with one person saying “f*** off Boris”.

Spectator Clement Jacquemin said he booed Boris Johnson leaving St Paul’s Cathedral in London because “he is a disgrace”.

Mr Jacquemin said Brexit and partygate were behind his objection, and the prime minister should have “stayed home, made himself forgotten, and let the British public enjoy this day”.

It comes after months of controvers­y for Mr Johnson and the Tory Government following a number of rule-breaking Number 10 parties during lockdown.

Mr Johnson, his wife Carrie and the chancellor all apologised in April after the Metropolit­an Police handed them fixed penalty notices for the party in the

Cabinet Room on June 19 2020.

In her recent report, senior civil servant Sue Gray also found boozy drinks parties were held at the heart of government on April 16 2021, the eve of the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral – albeit not attended by the PM himself.

As part of their investigat­ion into parties in Downing Street and Whitehall, the Metropolit­an Police deemed that restrictio­ns were breached ahead of the funeral.

At the time, socialisin­g indoors with people from other households was not allowed and meeting others outdoors was limited to groups of six people or two households.

An increasing number of Tory MPs have publicly urged the Mr Johnson to stand down – although not all have revealed whether they have submitted letters to the 1922 Committee calling for a confidence vote to decide his future.

Home Secretary Priti Patel has told Tory MPs that writing letters of no-confidence in Boris Johnson was a “sideshow”.

This week, the prime minister again came under criticism from the standards watchdog after he refused to give his adviser on the rules for ministers the freedom to launch his own inquiries into potential breaches.

 ?? ?? Boris Johnson and wife Carrie leaving the service.
Boris Johnson and wife Carrie leaving the service.

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