The British Prime Minister’s father, Stanley Johnson, has promised to continue going to the pub despite the advice on “social distancing” put out by his son’s government.
Interviewed live on ITV’s This Morning, Mr Johnson, 79, was asked if he would self-isolate and stop going to public houses in the light of the advice from the government issued on Monday, 16 March.
“If I have to go to a pub, of course I’ll go to a pub, if I need to go to the pub,” Mr Johnson replied.
Has there ever been a point in British history in which an already shambolic and excruciatingly incompetent Prime Minister was continually undermined by his own dad?pic.twitter.com/546kqOrLwi
— Graham Lithgow (@grahamlithgow) March 17, 2020
Fellow studio guest Vanessa Feltz asked him why he "needed" to go the pub and Mr Johnson said it would be bad for businesses like pubs if they were suddenly deserted.
— Darren McCaffrey (@DarrenEuronews) March 17, 2020
Mr Johnson’s comments have triggered a furious reaction on social media. Some people supported his “business as usual” position but many others claimed he was out of touch and privileged by wealth and the protection of private health insurance.
— Toby Earle (@TobyonTV) March 17, 2020
— Sonia Poulton (@SoniaPoulton) March 17, 2020
— Tracy Greaves (@TracyGreaves24) March 17, 2020
— melissa🌹 (@meloser_) March 17, 2020
— Lants 🧜🏼♀️ (@agjxcv) March 17, 2020
— Tom Pearce (@ThomasPearce10) March 17, 2020
