PM denies saying ‘let bodies pile high into their thousands’ to avoid more lockdowns
BORIS Johnson has denied making a remark about letting “bodies pile high” rather than have another lockdown.
The comments are alleged to have been made by the Prime Minister following a meeting about lockdowns last year.
He is claimed to have shouted: “Let the bodies pile high into their thousands”, and it was alleged that several staff in Downing Street overheard through an open door.
Yesterday, Mr Johnson strenuously denied that he had made the remarks, following widespread condemnation.
Meanwhile, an SNP MP accused the Tory Government of being a “sleekit, grubby cabal” that cannot be trusted with taxpayers’ money, following allegations of cronyism and concerns around refurbishing the Prime Minister’s flat.
Alison Thewliss raised an Urgent Question in the Commons, calling for the UK Government to hold an independent inquiry into claims of cronyism between business leaders and government ministers, and into the PM’S home in Downing Street.
BORIS Johnson has denied making a remark about letting “bodies pile high” rather than have another coronavirus lockdown.
The comments, which were first reported yesterday, are alleged to have been made by the Prime Minister following a meeting about lockdowns last year.
He is claimed to have shouted: “No more f ***** g lockdowns. Let the bodies pile high into their thousands” and it has been alleged that several staff in Downing Street overheard through an open door.
Yesterday Mr Johnson strenuously denied that he had made the remarks, following widespread condemnation across all political parties.
On a visit to Wrexham in North Wales, he was asked whether he made the comments and replied: “Absolutely not. No, but I think the important thing I think people want us to get on and do as a Government is to make sure that the lockdowns work.
“They have, and I really pay tribute to the people of this country, this whole country of ours, really pulled together and, working with the vaccination programme, we have got the disease under control.”
His official spokesman also denied that he made the comments, or that anyone else in Downing Street did. He said: “No, this is untrue. The PM has fully denied saying this. He is on the record just now saying it, and I’ve said to you, and I think the Defence Secretary made the point this morning.”
Asked if anyone in Downing Street made the comments, he said: “No. All I can confirm is that the Prime Minister did not make that statement. I’m not aware of anyone else making that statement.”
Yesterday First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that she was “profoundly shocked” by the remarks, adding: “I don’t know if he said it because I wasn’t there, but based on my experiences of him I don’t find it impossible to believe. On the contrary, it is all too believable.”
She continued: “For any Prime Minister, for any human being, to be so glib and crass about human life, is profoundly shocking.”
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said that the remarks would be “indefensible” if true. However, he stressed Mr Johnson’s and Downing Street’s denial. He said: “The Prime Minister and Number 10 have been very clear he did not make those comments.
“Those comments made by anyone at any level of elected office in the country would be utterly unacceptable.
“I don’t think I would want to see anymore to give those comments anymore airtime because they will be deeply troubling at the tens of thousands of families that have lost loved ones.
“But the Prime Minister has been clear he did not make those comments.”
Michael Gove backed Mr Johnson yesterday, saying he had “never heard language of that kind” in the meeting where Mr Johnson ordered the second shutdown.