The prime minister, Boris Johnson has apologised to MPs and the country for allowing parties to go ahead in the Number 10 Downing Street garden.
Boris Johnson told the Commons: “No 10 is a big department with a garden as an extension of the office which has been in constant use because of the role of fresh air in stopping the virus.
“When I went into that garden just after six on May 20, 2020, to thank groups of staff before going back into my office 25 minutes later to continue working, I believed implicitly that this was a work event.”
“With hindsight, I should have sent everyone back inside. I should have found some other way to thank them.
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“I should have recognised that even if it could be said technically to fall within the guidance, there are millions and millions of people who simply would not see it that way, people who have suffered terribly, people who were forbidden for meeting loved ones at all inside or outside, and to them and to this House I offer my heartfelt apologies.
“All I ask is that Sue Gray be allowed to complete her inquiry into that day and several others so that the full facts can be established.”
The PMs apology was said at the top of the hour before PMQs and although he admitted that he was at the event which took place on 20th May, 2020, during the height of the first lockdown he said that he “believed implicitly that this was a work event.”
This revelation from Johnson might have been unexpected but few people were impressed with him failing to recognise that a ‘party’ was happening in his garden.
Sure enough, memes mocking the PM soon began to flood social media. Here are some of our favourites.
— James Benge (@jamesbenge) January 12, 2022
In fairness I've had a lot of work events where I bring my own booze and spend time with all the co-workers.
— Andrew Jones - On Spec (@EthanRunt) January 12, 2022
When I'm freelancing. pic.twitter.com/M0w2mL1coA
"I thought it was a work event" pic.twitter.com/4xt7vZafYe
— Conor Pope (@Conorpope) January 12, 2022
“what a great work gathering this is, thanks for inviting me!” pic.twitter.com/7rghF5qk9i
— Bethany Dawson (@bethanymrd) January 12, 2022
I thought it was a work event pic.twitter.com/oj20t18lrO
— Ian Ford (@ij_ford) January 12, 2022
"I thought it was a work event." pic.twitter.com/3mjEIwM1G4
— James McManus (@JamesMcManus1) January 12, 2022
“I thought I was at a work meeting” pic.twitter.com/0NdBEqSVMW
— Alan White (@aljwhite) January 12, 2022
when you hear pitbull drop and thought you'd signed up for a night of photocopying in the garden pic.twitter.com/d7ev1yPHR8
— Sophie Gallagher (@SCFGallagher) January 12, 2022
. @BorisJohnson that must have been tuff babe, proud of u xoxo
— Joe Lycett (@joelycett) January 12, 2022
I once spent 25 minutes at a party but mistook it for a work event. pic.twitter.com/Y28myMo0bE
— Martin Calladine (@uglygame) January 12, 2022
#PMQs pic.twitter.com/XEyFWI7dZX
— Ben McAleer (@BenMcAleer1) January 12, 2022
“I thought it was a work event” pic.twitter.com/AevYvWMAIZ
— Will Davies (@davies_will) January 12, 2022
How gutted would you be if you threw a boozy party for 100 people and it was so shit that someone who was there for 25 minutes thought it was a work event
— Toby Tarrant (@tobytarrant) January 12, 2022
"I believed implicitly that this was a work event" pic.twitter.com/H7ziJo2Bs0
— Owen Jones 🌹 (@OwenJones84) January 12, 2022
Quote tweet with your favourite Work Event scene in cinema pic.twitter.com/Dbx8SUdgb1
— Robbie Collin (@robbiereviews) January 12, 2022
So let me just check I've got the hang of it - this is a work event, right?#PMQs pic.twitter.com/qKQo4y168b
— Parody Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson_MP) January 12, 2022
“I thought it was a work event” pic.twitter.com/stQ7RyuFxs
— Stig Abell (@StigAbell) January 12, 2022
Work event at 10 Downing Street you say? pic.twitter.com/M2ASIdndMR
— Charlie Reynolds (@cwjreynolds) January 12, 2022
Actually this is a work event. pic.twitter.com/FFgFbSRmTc
— Prof Paul Bernal (@PaulbernalUK) January 12, 2022
"There ain't no work event like an S Club work event" pic.twitter.com/PiuLm4zDkx
— Tom Campbell (@TomCampbell) January 12, 2022
"I thought I was taking part in a work event" pic.twitter.com/se9pK1fw1T
— Ana Oppenheim🌹⚡ (@AnaOpp) January 12, 2022
I believed a party in my back garden was a work event #PMQs pic.twitter.com/1ObVaPvMkc
— Sean Mclaughlan (@SeanMclaughlan1) January 12, 2022
— Greg Evans (@gregzeene) January 12, 2022
Look, we’ve all been there. Show up for a meeting at work, having been asked to bring booze, only to find hundreds of people there getting pissed up, just to figure out, 25 minutes later, that you’re actually at a party in your own garden.
— Gary Younge (@garyyounge) January 12, 2022
“It was a work event.” pic.twitter.com/jTZUOe6HDG
— Oliver Young-Myles (@OMyles90) January 12, 2022
— Jonny Sharples (@JonnyGabriel) January 12, 2022
“We believed this was a work event” pic.twitter.com/NcNqFORsDz
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj) January 12, 2022
A scene from the cult classic comedy Withnail and I proved to be very popular.
“We’ve gone to a party by mistake!”
— Labour Press (@labourpress) January 12, 2022
Cc: @BorisJohnson#PMQs pic.twitter.com/kcIIGDdJrs
'I went to a party by mistake' pic.twitter.com/Ls3z4KtWxY
— Ben Kelly (@BenKellyTweets) January 12, 2022
“I went to a party by mistake!” #PMQs #PartyGate pic.twitter.com/iUYSl5pToD
— Stuart Wilks-Heeg (@StuartWilksHeeg) January 12, 2022
As was the ‘they don’t know’ meme template.
#PMQ pic.twitter.com/IncoSu1GK6
— Leonardo Carella (@leonardocarella) January 12, 2022
Boris Johnson for 25 minutes on 20 May 2020 pic.twitter.com/pFqIz6dIqr
— Ryanair (@Ryanair) January 12, 2022
— Adam Smith (@adamndsmith) January 12, 2022
Even This Morning and Loose Women couldn’t resist what was going on in the Commons.
You know that this is a big political moment when ITV’s #ThisMorning cuts away to #PMQs live pic.twitter.com/9sHiziQwdI
— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) January 12, 2022
Loose Women start their show today with a discussion on whether Boris Johnson's apology is enough.
— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) January 12, 2022
More proof that this is a 'cut through' political moment. pic.twitter.com/HfiM5gkcOT
Labour leader Keir Starmer called for Johnson to resign.
https://t.co/P1dJrglolV pic.twitter.com/eUxBgBk3EE
— 🇬🇭 Carl Anka 🇬🇭 (@Ankaman616) January 12, 2022
David Lammy couldn’t resist getting involved either.
"I believed implicitly that this was a work event" #PMQs pic.twitter.com/LpwdRr8nYS
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) January 12, 2022
Additional reporting from PA.
