A senior UK Conservative minister has apologized for a videotape of an event at Conservative Party HQ in 2020 in which staff were apparently made jokes about Covid-19 restrictions, reports RTE.
Two of those attending the party later received honors from former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Failed London mayoral candidate Sean Bailey and Tory adviser Ben Mallett will receive a peerage and OBE respectively.
Leveling up secretary Michael Gove said the couple should not be stripped of their honour, saying the former prime minister had a right to resign which should not be blocked.
Video of the event renewed criticism of Mr Johnson’s list, rpeorts RTE.
Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Mr Gove said: “The decision to confer honours on people was one that was made by Boris Johnson as an outgoing prime minister. Outgoing prime ministers have that right. Whether or not they should is a matter of legitimate public debate, but they do at the moment,” reports RTE.
Also speaking on Sky News, Mr Gove said: “It’s terrible. I think it’s completely out of order. As I understand it, this was an event that was organised by the people who were running the mayoral campaign for Shaun Bailey. They had obviously behaved in a way which is unacceptable,” reports RTE.
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