British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing significant criticism amid reports suggesting that he said that he would rather let “bodies pile high in their thousands” than call for a third lockdown. These comments were allegedly made last October, right before the United Kingdom (UK) went into its second lockdown. However, with the number of cases of COVID-19 and the consequent deaths surging, the UK entered into its third lockdown on January 6.
Johnson has denied the reports, saying that his government wanted to ensure that the lockdowns worked, which he said they had. It is worth noting that previously, as the number of cases surged amid the second wave of COVID-19 in the UK, the prime minister had repeatedly delayed the imposition of the nationwide lockdown. At that time, several experts had expressed concern about the delay, which they directly linked with the rising death rate. Hence, the recent reports about his statements are likely to further tarnish his popularity amongst the public.
However, several political leaders have come out defending the British premier. The most ardent supporter of Johnson has been Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, who rubbished the reports as “gossip stories” that quoted “unnamed sources by unnamed advisers talking about unnamed events.” He noted that the stories have been “categorically denied by practically everyone”. Boris Johnson’s spokesperson, Max Blain, also dismissed the allegations as “untrue”, adding that he was “not aware of anyone else making that statement” either. Further, British Cabinet Minister Michael Gove said that he has “never heard language of that kind”.
Despite many voices of support, however, several opposition parties have come out raising concerns about the prime minister’s statements. Labour Party leader and shadow Cabinet Minister Rachel Reeves said that the comments were “stomach-churning” and called on Johnson to apologise to the public. She added that PM was someone who “would rather the bodies pile high than act on scientific advice,” before adding, “but they are not bodies; they are people, they are loved ones and they are deeply missed.” Consequently, she called for an inquiry into these allegations. Another leader from the party, Sir Keir Starmer, also expressed his shock at the reports, saying, “Everybody would be deeply concerned, not least all those families who have lost someone in the pandemic.”
This is just one of the issues that have brought Johnson under public scrutiny. The British premier has also been criticised for the extravagant refurbishment of his Downing Street flat, which his foreign chief adviser Dominic Cummings alleged was being paid for secretly by Johnson’s donors. Cummings has called the prime minister’s move “unethical, foolish, possibly illegal, and almost certainly broke the rules on proper disclosure of political donations.” In response, several Cabinet Ministers have clarified that Johnson had paid for the flat himself. Moreover, Johnson said that he would make the declarations, thereby addressing questions being raised about party donations being used for the refurbishment, “in due course”.
British Defence Secretary Denies Reports of PM Johnson Saying “Let the Bodies Pile High”
British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace denied reports that claimed that PM Boris Johnson had said that in order to avoid a lockdown, he was willing to let bodies pole “high in their thousands”.
April 27, 2021
SOURCE: REUTERS