The Prime Minister skipped a heatwave crisis meeting to host a bash at his luxury rural retreat
Boris Johnson has been accused of being “missing in action” after he headed to Chequers this weekend instead of attending an emergency Cobra meeting over the rising temperatures that could put lives at risk.
Cabinet Office minister Kit Malthouse chaired a meeting of the Government’s Cobra civil contingencies committee to discuss the escalating heatwave on Saturday without the Prime Minister there.
A red warning for extreme heat is now in place across a huge chunk of England on Monday and Tuesday, when temperatures are forecast to hit 40C.
The Met Office has issued a “danger to life” warning, adding that “population-wide” adverse health effects are “not limited to those most vulnerable to extreme heat”.
But in typical Boris style, the PM decided to head out to Chequers rather than face up to threats of a potential loss of life.
Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader, said Johnson had gone “missing in action again” and “returned to his old tricks” after he skipped an important Cobra meeting at a vital time.
Johnson reportedly missed five coronavirus Cobra meetings at the start of the pandemic, likely contributing to what Sue Gray described as “failures of leadership and judgement” in her report.
In response to his latest notable absence, Rayner said: “The public will have no confidence in this zombie Conservative government responding swiftly and decisively to this national emergency as this disgraced prime minister prepares to party while Britain boils.”
But one man who was determined not to let this slip was ‘Stop Brexit’ campaigner Steve Bray, who was stationed outside Chequers for the party this weekend.
He blarred the familiar ‘Bye bye Boris’ soundtrack that was heard outside Downing Street on the day the PM resigned.
Several banners including ‘Brexit is not working’ and ‘Corrupt Tory government’ could also be seen, as well as the usual ‘Get your Johnson out of our democracy!’.
Myself and Sylvia at Chequers and all set up. I think Harry Cole’s drove past as we were setting up. PARTY TIME!!! 😇 pic.twitter.com/T8wyCUWsSh
— GET TORIES DONE – GENERAL ELECTION NOW! (@snb19692) July 17, 2022
Related links:
- Aussie living in London delivers helpful advice on how Brits can beat the heat
- Cinema chain offers free entry to redheads so they can hide from the heatwave
- Experts suggest going commando to beat heatwave temperatures and avoid fungal infection
- Bees may ejaculate themselves to death if heatwave reaches 42C
