LONDON (dpa-AFX) – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (57) tried a party classic in the “Partygate” affair to prove his fighting spirit. Johnson’s new communications chief Guto Harri reported to the news portal Golwg360 on Monday that the first thing he asked the conservative head of government was: “Will you survive this, Boris?” (“Are you going to survive, Boris?”). The Prime Minister then started singing Gloria Gaynor’s famous song: “I will survive”. Then both supposedly sang the next two lines together.
Harri is supposed to improve the public image of the government, which has suffered serious damage. When asked about the anecdote, Johnson just laughed. A government spokesman said the PM does not comment on private conversations. Otherwise, Harri said of his new boss: “He’s not a clown, he’s a very lovable character. 90 percent of our discussion is very serious, but he’s a character type and sometimes has fun. He’s not the devil that some make him out to be mischaracterized.”
Johnson has been under pressure for weeks over the Downing Street lockdown party affair during the coronavirus pandemic. Even several Conservative MPs are calling for his resignation. Johnson recently swapped out several advisors to demonstrate leadership./bvi/DP/stw