Dominic Raab said that Downing St photo ‘wasn’t a social occasion’ – only 13 responses you need

You’ll no doubt have seen that photo of the Downing Street garden gathering taken at a time when strict social distancing policies were in force.

The picture of Boris Johnson, his wife and up to 17 staff was taken when no more than two people from different households were allowed to meet outdoors in a social setting.

It heaped further pressure on Johnson so his so-called deputy Dominic Raab went on BBC Breakfast today to defend his boss. And it’s quite the watch.

“This wasn’t a social occasion, it was staff having a drink after meetings”

Deputy PM Dominic Raab defends a new photo showing the PM and colleagues having a gathering in the No 10 garden during lockdown. https://t.co/WXwzyfxvYF pic.twitter.com/EpGoV78ROf

— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) December 20, 2021

Raab wasn’t just on BBC Breakfast, here he is on Sky News and it doesn’t get any better, it really doesn’t.

#kayburley – “when was the last time you took your wife and baby to a business meeting?”

Dominic Raab – “The Prime Minister is in a suit”

The always superb @KayBurley rips the Deputy Prime Minister a new one pic.twitter.com/KtOClDmUYi

— Peter Stefanovic (@PeterStefanovi2) December 20, 2021

And these are the only 13 responses you need.

1.

Having a work meeting today?

Things you’ll need:
✅ Wine
✅ Cheese
✅ Wife
✅ Baby

Things you won’t need
❌ Laptop
❌ Notebook
❌ Pens & paper
❌ Whiteboard pic.twitter.com/G5UNNsDZfF

— David Schneider (@davidschneider) December 20, 2021

2.

Downing Street’s claim that the wine was being drunk at a staff meeting would at least explain some of its decisions in the pandemic

— Henry Mance (@henrymance) December 20, 2021

3.

If they served cheese & wine at COBRA meetings, maybe the Prime Minister would turn up.

— James Oh Brien (@mrjamesob) December 20, 2021

4.

If drinks after work isn't socialising but classed as a work meeting then we all have a lot of overtime we need to be invoicing for.

— TechnicallyRon (@TechnicallyRon) December 20, 2021

5.

"This wasn't a social occasion, it was staff having a drink after meetings." pic.twitter.com/Fc5tkrVKLX

— Adam Macqueen (@adam_macqueen) December 20, 2021

6.

It wasn’t a social occasion, it was a big group of lads hanging out and drinking for fun. I’m a lawyer by the way. https://t.co/al1Kk6Kj07

— James Felton (@JimMFelton) December 20, 2021

7.

I suppose the test is whether it would be considered a ‘social occasion’ if this was a group of supermarket workers, carers, nurses or other key workers who’d downed tools and gone out into the sunshine for wine and cheese after work, including with the boss’s wife/fiancé. https://t.co/y8iFJAmmpw

— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) December 20, 2021

8.

"It was a work meeting" says Number Ten, forgetting that the video of them laughing and saying that was the excuse they'd use if it ever became public has already been made public.

— Luke John Davies (@LJDLabour) December 20, 2021

9.

A lot of words to say "it wasn't allowed but they did it anyway." https://t.co/l9J0OTHpuR

— Otto English (@Otto_English) December 20, 2021

10.

Some people say they are sick of hearing about these parties and are blaming the BBC for reporting them. They appear not to be sick of the people breaking the rules. https://t.co/cfJ1xPlY2w

— Brian Moore (@brianmoore666) December 20, 2021

11.

A DRINK AFTER A MEETING IS BY VERY LITERAL DEFINITION A SOCIAL OCCASION JESUS ABSOLUTE CHRIST https://t.co/OoR2ssPh3O

— dan hett (@danhett) December 20, 2021

12.

Is this modern British workplace with wine and cheese what Liz Truss, Dominic Raab, Priti Patel and Kwasi Kwarteng had in mind when they called British workers “among the worst idlers in the world” in their Britannia Unchained manifesto? pic.twitter.com/6Rk6zvptlP

— Kevin Maguire (@Kevin_Maguire) December 20, 2021

13.

Might be a bit groggy on the show tomorrow. Please be gentle. Having a 'work meeting' in the garden tonight.

— James Oh Brien (@mrjamesob) December 19, 2021

To conclude …

On the left is the last photo I have of my mum alive in May 2020. Living alone with serious illness, she faced the pandemic with stoicism.
We went for a walk around her local park. When she suggested sitting 2m apart in her garden, I said: better not, it’s against the rules. pic.twitter.com/6S0sEzYnRR

— Stephen Laughton (@StevoLaughton) December 19, 2021

READ MORE

Boris Johnson angry at being asked questions is a most revealing (and jaw-dropping) watch

Source Image Guardian Twitter @BBCBreakfast @PeterStefanovi2