Raab says PM and park staff were within lockdown rules | Boris Johnson

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Dominic Raab said a photo of Boris Johnson, his wife and up to 17 Downing Street park workers during the first shutdown showed people “having a drink after a busy set of business meetings” and behaving exactly according to the rules of the time. .

The Minister of Justice argued that other workplaces would have done the same during this period, and that this would not violate any rules.

Raab’s defense of the events of May 15, 2020, shown in a photo shared with the Guardian, appears to differ from the Downing Street version, which stated that the photo showed people still participating in business meetings.

Asked about the photo, Raab told BBC One: “I know how hard Team 10 is working, as a hub, the fulcrum to respond to the crisis. I think there are a lot of tired people out there, and they, as people do at work, have been having a drink after they’ve finished.” official business.

‘They drank sometimes’: Video Rapp defends wine image in park No. 10

When asked if NHS staff had done the same, Raab said he agreed that there was a difference in people who worked in clinical settings. He added: “But I am sure that in other offices across the country, for those people who had to work in the office, that would have been allowed. It was very clear, it was not against the regulations.”

Asked how this complied with the strict distancing policies in place at the time, which in a social environment allowed no more than two people from different families to meet outdoors, the Minister of Justice said: “This is a workplace. They had a drink after what was A hard day, period, and that was in keeping with the rules. This wasn’t a social occasion. These were people having a drink after a busy batch of business meetings and the day’s business.”

On Friday, Downing Street denied that anything social happened on the evening of May 15 last year, after a Covid press conference hosted by Matt Hancock, the then health secretary. She said Johnson “had a series of meetings throughout the afternoon,” including in the garden.

Asked about the photo, a Downing Street spokesperson said on Sunday: “As we said last week, business meetings are often held in Downing Street Park in the summer months. On this occasion, there were staff meetings after the 10th press conference.”

The rules in the first shutdown weren’t very specific about workplaces, in part because so few offices were open. But they said in-person meetings should only take place if they are “absolutely necessary” and if so, a two-meter distance should be maintained at all times.

Q&A What are the Covid rules in England on May 15, 2020?

The Downing Street meeting took place on May 15, 2020 under the rules of the first coronavirus lockdown in England. Two days ago, an amendment to the Covid regulations came into effect allowing the first contact between the family since the lockdown began. However, this was limited to two people, who could only meet outdoors and at a distance of at least two meters.

The rules were less specific about social gatherings at work. Premises were very few, and when that was the case, employees were urged to stay away as much as possible. Ten employees were not allowed to be in their offices, as national government employees were classified as key workers.

However, the main objective set forth in the guidelines for workplaces that remained open was to “maintain a 2-meter social distance where possible”. They said in-person meetings should only take place if “absolutely necessary” and, if so, a two-meter distance should be maintained at all times.

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When asked why the photo appeared to show people standing more closely, Rapp seemed to argue that it didn’t matter much because they were outdoors, something not mentioned in the guidance: “There is a huge difference. It’s always been clear from public health advice. That outdoors you have a greater chance of reducing risk because of the ventilation that comes with it.”

Shadow adviser Rachel Reeves claimed on BBC Radio 4’s Today program that the photo appeared to indicate a rule violation. “I think there is evidence that the law has been broken … the country is tired of it,” she said.

Speaking earlier to Sky News, Raab said it was perfectly normal for Johnson’s then-fiancée and now wife, Carrie, to be next to him in the park. She appears to be holding her newborn baby at a table with a cheese and wine board.

“No. 10 Downing Street and the park used to work,” he said. “It was used all that week. I think the prime minister was seen right after the press conference. It’s basically a workplace. Number 10 is also the prime minister’s residence. He has a very small family, and I think if you pissed off his wife on a break from work that day I don’t think that’s true.”

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