“door step”.
It is an often necessary but seldom tidy journalistic exercise—identifying relevant questions and asking an unwilling participant to make some effort to avoid them.
Boris Johnson It was for a long time we Journey through Texas to Las Vegas in the west and Washington, D.C. in the east.
Exclusive to Boris Johnson:
Ex PM: New lockdown allegations ‘total nonsense’
He had dined with former Presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump.
He has given speeches, at least one for six-figure sums, and has spoken on a range of issues – Ukraineespecially.
Mr. Johnson has come some distance and a big topic.
But it didn’t cover COVID, Until we catch up Departing from Dulles Airport in Virginia.
The former prime minister’s “doorstep” was not tidy. He was escorted towards the check-in desk by aides and security personnel. He was initially reluctant to answer questions.
“absolute nonsense”
As we meandered our way through the airport concourse, with the distinctive ruffle of his hair, he decided—at last—that he would answer questions on the subject; To be fair, at one point he stopped a security officer from interfering with: “He’s from Sky News, he’s entitled to ask me questions.”
In doing so, he dispelled doubts regarding his defence New claims for insurance violations – somewhat.
But in his haste at the Q&A doorstep, Denial lacked detail.
“It makes no sense whatsoever,” he added, how he repeatedly described allegations he had breached lockdown rules at Checkers and Downing Street — “a load of sheer nonsense”.
They are emphatic statements that convey the frank exclusion, the indignation of a man speaking in banner headlines.
But this is a matter for the police and they will want more, as will the House of Commons Privileges Committee.
Their questions will look at setting consistency in Johnson’s case for his defense and assessing how well his story fits together.
There will also be evidence, as it is written in the ministerial diary.
Read more:
Johnson’s former press chief says, ‘There’s no smoke without fire’
COVID – and the rules are broken – baggage show man Johnson can’t lose
James Matthews on Boris Johnson’s doorstep at Dulles Airport in Washington, DC
Will more violations be fatal to the career of the former prime minister?
When contemplating how to proceed with the investigation, consider Johnson’s answer to us: ‘There are tens of thousands of entries in the Prime Minister’s diary. I’ve never seen these things – I’ve looked through them – none of them constitute a breach of the rules during Corona virus disease. “
Any investigator will wonder how the certainty of this response gains from not having “seen these things before”.
Maybe it was loose phrasing, maybe it was more than that.
Surely, he will be asked to explain and the documents themselves should help settle the issue, while recording the fact.
It is all part of a broader investigation that is important for a number of reasons, not least of which are members of the public who have sought leadership during the pandemic and have felt frustrated.
There are questions far beyond Tory machinations in this, however far-reaching they may be politically.
Yet the question Mr. Johnson did not directly address in Our Doorstep was central to his future.
If he’s found to have broken lockdown rules again – is he finished as a politician?