A Second Opinion: Boris Johnson, British Prime Minister, Apologizes

Mural of “BoJo” on Leake Street, Waterloo, London by street artist Irony alluding to “partygate”

by Mary Foran

British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, known for his blonde, tousled hair, and leader of the British Conservative Party, is still in trouble over partying without a mask during the lockdown period in England. Four of his top aides have quit over the scandal and there are calls for him to “stand down.”

But the scandal, known as “partygate”, may be moot now that Britain has lifted all Covid-19 mandates and restrictions along with other European nations.

Apparently, there were 12 gatherings in government offices, and in Johnson’s residence, over the past two years that are under police investigation. They took place during Covid-19 lockdowns in which ordinary people were ordered to refrain from socializing.

“Freedom convoy”: Canada truckers block the intersection of Bloor St. and University Ave. on 5 February 2022 upon arrival in Toronto  after weeklong cross-country protest against vaccine mandates and Covid measures

The Prime Minister has previously denied knowingly breaking rules and has apologized to Parliament. Mr. Johnson’s chief of staff, Dan Rosenfield, has been in charge of managing the fallout from the scandal.

Meanwhile, in Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has blasted truckers engaged in a cross-country convoy protesting Covid-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions. The truckers, who headed to Ottawa, the capital, to confront Trudeau, made a call for “freedom” that was heard around the world. Many supporters lined the truckers route with signs and flags.

A similar convoy is gathering to head across the USA to Washington, DC to protest Covid-19 mandates and restrictions. Various states have already lifted restrictions but a federal mandate is still in place.

“I am not opposed to the vaccines but I believe one should have the freedom to decide one’s own fate.”

Experts disagree but some pundits say we just have to learn to live with Covid-19 and all its variants. According to polls, masks have been shown to have little efficacy, and lockdowns have hurt the economy more than battling this disease.

I am not opposed to the vaccines but I am opposed to mandates since I believe one should have the freedom to decide one’s own fate. But of course, no one wants to die if such a fate can be prevented.

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Images
Featured image (BoJo mural)/Loco Steve, CC BY-SA2.0 via Flickr
Freedom convoy/Michael Swan, CC BY-ND2.0, Flickr
Vaccine/Lisa Ferdinando, US Dept of Defense, CC BY2.0