As the government is embroiled in a controversy over a number of alleged parties while the country was under Covid restrictions, the prime minister last night announced they would be ushering in the Plan B Covid restrictions.
The Conservatives are now facing claims of several gatherings against the rules and their admission to a gathering on December 14 in the party headquarters has sparked fury and criticism from across the political spectrum.
A leaked mock press briefing showing former Number 10 advisor Allegra Stratton joking about a Christmas gathering last December led to an outpouring of anger. She has since resigned.
Meanwhile, Johnson was forced to deny allegations, including from senior Conservative William Wragg, that his announcement of further coronavirus restrictions was a “diversionary tactic” from the scandal.
The new Plan B restrictions were announced yesterday evening in a bid to tackle the spread of the omicron Covid variant.
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This means a reintroduction to working from home, and wearing face masks in most indoor venues such as cinemas. Mandatory vaccine passports will be brought in for larger events and nightclubs, so that people can prove they are double-jabbed.
As if he doesn’t have enough on his plate, the prime minister has also just become a dad-of-seven after his wife gave birth to a baby girl.
Amid the flurry of government-related news over the past few days, some have expressed their frustration by doing what social media does best - rinsing politicians with memes and jokes on Twitter.
Given the wishy-washy answers given when asked about the alleged festive shindig on December 18, some likened the Conservatives to The Office’s David Brent:
“Can we have a party this year?”
— No Context Brits (@NoContextBrits) December 8, 2021
Boris: pic.twitter.com/CogrVMUMOG
As always, comedian Munya Chawawa was quick to respond to the government’s latest controversy by recording a hilarious parody of Last Christmas:
A Christmas Tory 🎅🏻💊🧀🍷
— Munya Chawawa (@munyachawawa) December 8, 2021
One to play at the next party... #Boris #PlanB #AllegraStratton
(P.S. My debut series out here: https://t.co/NZ6K4WN23O) pic.twitter.com/YcPplxeTWD
The party jokes came from all corners of Twitter, with Piers Morgan even poking fun at the prime minister:
Throwback to my last pandemic business meeting at No10. pic.twitter.com/5bSFuN4NEP
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) December 8, 2021
boris turning up for a night of cheese and wine after putting the country in lockdown pic.twitter.com/RzwSXOjIaW
— jasôn 💫 (@jxsonfarr) December 8, 2021
Boris Johnson on PMQs today: pic.twitter.com/P2wGsO6LTp
— LADbible (@ladbible) December 8, 2021
Let’s ask Boris Johnson to show us his snap memories live on BBC
— 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘦 (@jxnnyway) December 8, 2021
Cressida Dick assigns officer, to a formal investigation into No 10 lockdown Christmas parties
— Lucky Man🇬🇧🇪🇺 (blue tick pending) (@luckyma_man) December 6, 2021
🐷🇬🇧 #JohnsonOut #DickOut pic.twitter.com/Mn6lapPbWZ
Boris Johnson still denies any Christmas party happened at No10 and I believe him😂 pic.twitter.com/NCyiIEIjx6
— Ross McCulloch (@Rossmac212) December 8, 2021
— William Wragg MP (@William_Wragg) December 8, 2021
The famous Downing Street cat, Larry, even gave a media address to comment on the controversy. Luckily for Larry, his mock briefing wasn’t recorded…
For people asking if I attended the law breaking Downing Street parties, a straightforward answer: No.
— Larry the Cat (@Number10cat) December 5, 2021
I have a strict policy of leaving any room that Boris Johnson enters. #OneRuleForThem pic.twitter.com/meFXtVbDiX
When people weren’t making memes about the parties, they were talking about the new Covid restrictions.
Some even likened the government triggering Plan B to a scene from The Inbetweeners:
Everyone in the UK listening to Boris #DowningStreetBriefing pic.twitter.com/IrA12Lf9qa
— Mattyh_08 #BLACKLIVESMATTER (@mattyh_08) December 8, 2021
Look I’ve taken Plan B before, it still means you fucked it
— Alexandra Haddow (@MissAHaddow) December 8, 2021
We're moving to 'Plan B' which if you're a teacher means...carry on regardless and try not to freeze whilst you have all your windows and doors open. 🙄🥶 pic.twitter.com/aHcEUJUeqK
— MissPagetEnglish (@MissPaget) December 8, 2021
Tory MP explains Plan B using the music of Plan B #CovidPlanB pic.twitter.com/P1FxoUibx0
— Will Sebag-Montefiore (@wsebag) December 9, 2021
This is the plan B I'd like to see#ResignJohnson #JohnsonOut #johnsonthecorruptPM pic.twitter.com/eIrjGq4Z2M
— European Unity #FBPE #RejoinEU 🇪🇺💙 #JohnsonOut (@EuropeanUnity1) December 9, 2021
Meanwhile others joked about how Carrie Johnson’s birth was well-timed:
Have to give it to Carrie, her ability to have babies at the exact time Boris needs to distract the public is some Wonder Woman-telepathic level stuff. A powerhouse. https://t.co/04ViJxPGSu
— aoife moore. (@aoifegracemoore) December 9, 2021
Wow... Busy week for Boris Johnson... his wife Carrie Johnson has given birth to their second child https://t.co/YURQiS6wEi
— Jack Mendel 🗞️ (@Mendelpol) December 9, 2021
Anyone know when the Number 10 baby shower party is taking place?
Boris Johnson right now pic.twitter.com/grClc5W9lq
— Eugene (@eugeneh84) December 9, 2021
Boris and Carrie Johnson have announced the birth of a new baby girl. pic.twitter.com/UoI708PTyz
— David Brent Music (@DavidBrentMovie) December 9, 2021
Good job she didn’t have the baby at home, Boris would have no idea about it
— Alexandra Haddow (@MissAHaddow) December 9, 2021
Between party allegations, an ongoing pandemic, and calls to resign while cradling a newborn baby, Johnson is one man we don’t envy. The past 24 hours truly have been like something out of a soap opera...
