Boris Johnson snapped back at Sky News reporter Beth Rigby following his press conference in response to the bombshell Sue Gray report.
Sky’s political editor asked the Prime Minister whether he has considered resigning, given the accounts of excessive drinking, altercations and poor treatment of cleaners published in the report.
She said: “It’s your culture, under your leadership, did you never for a moment in the past five months or even this morning when that report landed on your desk and you read it blow by blow think about resigning?
“A poll out today says three in five Britons think that you should.”
When Beth Rigby pushed for a follow-up, the PM snapped: "Why are only you allowed to come back Beth, it shows you have some kind of special position,” before quickly saying “forgive me”.
Boris Johnson under fire from viewers after Beth Rigby remarks
The altercation saw viewers head to social media to share their thoughts.
One social media user said: “Boris getting snappy at Beth Rigby. One of the few journalists in this presser pressing his buttons.”
Ian Dunt, columnist at the I newspaper said: “In this case a flash of anger directed towards Sky's Beth Rigby. She is very good, so naturally he despises her.”
In this case a flash of anger directed towards Sky's Beth Rigby. She is very good, so naturally he despises her.
— Ian Dunt (@IanDunt) May 25, 2022
A third added: “Yes, Beth Rigby broke the rules but she served her punishment. Boris set the rules and broke them, and that is worse. Lawmakers can't be lawbreakers. Rigby isn't a lawmaker. Boris is.”
Boris Johnson looking into reports of staff’s rude treatment cleaners
The Prime Minister said he had begun making inquiries about which staff had been rude to security and cleaning staff in No 10 and Whitehall.
Addressing a Downing Street press conference, Boris Johnson said: “On the behaviour of staff and alleged rudeness, I don’t know who is specifically guilty of that.
“In the course of my apologies today, I began to make some inquiries and I will, of course, continue them.
“As I said earlier on, I think it is utterly intolerable for people to be rude to hard-working staff.
“At the very least, they should apologise but I don’t yet have the names of those who were responsible.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel