Boris Johnson pulls out of planned trip after family member tests positive

British PM would have faced questions about attendance at Downing Street party in 2020

Downing Street spokesman: ‘He will follow the guidance for vaccinated close contacts, including daily testing and limiting contact with others.’ Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images
Downing Street spokesman: ‘He will follow the guidance for vaccinated close contacts, including daily testing and limiting contact with others.’ Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images

Boris Johnson has pulled out of a planned visit to a vaccination clinic after a family member tested positive for coronavirus.

The British prime minister would have faced questions from the media about his attendance at a Downing Street “bring your own booze” event on the planned visit to Lancashire.

But he has pulled out, despite official guidance no longer requiring vaccinated contacts of coronavirus cases to self-isolate.

A Downing Street spokesman said: “The prime minister will no longer be visiting Lancashire today due to a family member testing positive for coronavirus. He will follow the guidance for vaccinated close contacts, including daily testing and limiting contact with others.”

READ MORE

Although the legal requirement to self-isolate does not apply to vaccinated contacts, they are advised to take daily tests and “limit close contact with other people outside your household”.

The prime minister has faced calls to quit from within the Tory ranks after admitting attending a “bring your own booze” event in the No 10 garden on May 20th, 2020.

He has insisted that he believed it was a work event and No 10 said he had not seen the email inviting staff to bring their own alcohol to the “socially distanced drinks”.

Mr Johnson apologised for the event in the Commons on Wednesday. – PA