PM’s father should have stuck to rules, admits No10
BORIS Johnson has made it clear that his father should have followed coronavirus restrictions after he was seen shopping without a face covering.
Stanley Johnson apologised after he was pictured in the Mirror newspaper perusing the shelves at a newsagents in west London on Tuesday, seemingly in breach of the regulations.
The picture emerged after fines increased to £200 last week for firsttime offenders who fail to wear a face covering in accordance with Government guidance.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Mr Johnson senior had acknowledged his “error” .
The spokesman said the Prime Minister had made clear the rules - which were designed to curb the spread of the disease - applied to everyone.
“You have heard the Prime Minister’s father apologise for his mistake,” the spokesman said. “He recognises his error and fully understands that it is vital for everyone to abide by the rules on face coverings and social-distancing. It will always be for the police to take decisions in individual cases.
That is how our system works. The Prime Minister is clear that the rules apply to everyone and everybody needs to follow them.”
Speaking to the Mirror, Stanley Johnson said he may not have been “100% up to speed” with current rules as he had just returned to England after three weeks abroad.
“I’m extremely sorry for the slip-up and I would urge absolutely everybody to do everything they can to make sure they do follow the rules about masks and social distancing,” he said.
In July the he Prime Minister refused to comment after his father reportedly circumvented Greek travel restrictions to visit his villa at a time when the Foreign Office was advising against all non-essential travel. Mr Johnson senior also admitted breaking lockdown rules when he went out to buy a newspaper after his grandchild was born in April, stating he was “not sure it’s an essential journey”, and indicated in March that he would ignore the Government’s advice and go to the pub.