United Kingdom PM Boris Johnson is under fire from members of the general public, the opposition, and members of his own Conservative Party after he publicly apologized for attending a Garden Party at 10 Downing Street at the height of the COVID-19 Pandemic in May of 2020.
Boris who has been quiet about the event since it came to light in late 2021 said in Prime Ministers Question Period on Wednesday January 12th, " I want to apologize, I know that million of people across this country have made extrodinary sacrifices over the last 18 months
"I know the anguishes that they have been through, unable to mourn their relatives, unable to live the lives that they want, or do the things that they love. I know the rage they feel with me and the government that I lead, when they think in Downing Street itself the rules aren't being properly followed by the people who make the rules," Johnson added.
Johnson, who had refused to acknowledge any wrongdoing over the last few weeks struck a somber tone when delivering his apology.
A public inquiry over the alleged garden party has been ongoing since news broke of the public gathering at 10 Downing Street.
"And thought I can not anticipate the conclusions of the current inquiry, I have learnt enough to know that are things that we did not get right," the UK PM stated. "I must take responsibility."
The Leader of the Opposition, Sir Keir Starmer went in on the Prime Minster and didn't hold back his tone when addressing Johnson, "There we have it, after months of deceit and deception, the pathetic spectacle of a man who ran out of road.
"(Johnsons) defence that 'he didn't realize he was at a party' is so ridiculous that its actually offensive to the British public," Starmer added. "He was finally force to admit to something everyone already knew," he quipped.
Starmer asked for Johnson to do the decent thing and resign. Johnson didn't.
The Conservative Party came undone with the news, with cabinet members falling in line to support the PM and backbenchers and other party leaders coming out against the PM.
Conservative backbencher William Wragg said in an interview that the PM should leave, "Unfortunately, I wasn’t reassured. I fear this is simply going to be a continuing distraction to the good governance of the country,
"I sadly think that the prime minister’s position is untenable," Wragg added.
Culture secretary, Nadine Dorries, levelling up secretary, Michael Gove, deputy prime minister and justice secretary, Dominic Raab; the home secretary, Priti Patel; the transport secretary, Grant Shapps; the Commons leader, Jacob Rees-Mogg, and the health secretary, Sajid Javi have all come out in hours after the public apology to support the embattled PM.
In order to force the process of a recall on the PM leadership, the 1922 Committee (which is made up of only backbench conservative MP's) need to receive a letter of no confidence by 15 per cent of Tory MPs ( which is roughly 54 Conservative MPs).
Since the public apology, 19 Tory MPs have called for the embattled leader to step down from his position.