Officials Call For Boris Johnson To Step Down After Alleged Pandemic Parties

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s authority is at risk as the opposition Labour Party is urging him to step down.

Johnson, leader of the Conservative Party, is enduring high levels of backlash after admitting his presence at a party while the U.K. was in a state of lockdown in 2020, The New York Times reports.

The leader of the Labour Party, Keir Starmer, took to Twitter on Wednesday to express his desire for Johnson to resign. “The party is over @BorisJohnson,” he said. "Resign."

In what could be a huge blow to Johnson’s reign, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Douglas Ross, also called on him to stand aside.

“Regrettably, I have to say his position is no longer tenable,” Ross said.

The BBC reports that multiple cabinet ministers are lending their support for Johnson. Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis clarified his support, saying, "You've got to let these investigations get to the full details and the full facts."

Johnson, who contends he believes the gathering, among others being investigated, was work-related and did not violate government protocols, has apologized for his conduct.

“I want to apologize,” he said. “I know the rage they feel with me and with the government I lead when they think in Downing Street itself the rules are not being properly followed by the people who make the rules.”