How Partying Could Be Boris Johnson’s Undoing

<p>When allegations first emerged in November about parties held at 10 Downing Street, the residence and offices of the British prime minister, during a strict Covid lockdown, Prime Minister Boris Johnson waved them away. </p><p>Yet in the weeks since, the scandal has only grown, with public outrage building as more instances and details of lockdown parties at Downing Street have emerged.</p><p>Some voters in Britain have long been willing to overlook the foibles of Mr. Johnson’s character, but this is a scandal that poses an existential threat to his leadership. </p><p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/mark-landler?smid=pc-thedaily">Mark Landler</a>, the London bureau chief for The New York Times.</p><p>Want more from The Daily? For one big idea on the news each week from our team, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline">subscribe to our newsletter</a>. </p><p>Background reading: </p><ul><li>Boris Johnson’s future is in doubt after two humiliating apologies about parties while the country was under Covid restrictions. Here’s a guide to<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/article/boris-johnson-prime-minister-explained.html?smid=pc-thedaily"> how he could be forced out, or fight on</a>.</li><li>Mr. Johnson, long famed for brushing off accusations of distortion or outright lying that seemed to only bolster his image as an incorrigible scamp,<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/22/world/europe/coronavirus-boris-johnson-novak-djokovic-hypocrisy.html?smid=pc-thedaily"> suddenly faces potential political death</a> over the very charge to which he had seemed immune.</li></ul><p>For more information on today’s episode, visit </p><p><a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily">nytimes.com/thedaily</a></p><p>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.</p>