英首相、披露宴のため即時辞任せず？　公式別荘での開催に批判

【ロンドンＡＦＰ＝時事】ボリス・ジョンソン英首相が７日に辞意を表明したことを受け、首相が今月末に公式別荘で開く予定だったキャリー夫人との結婚披露宴の会場変更を求める声が上がっている。（写真は２０２１年に撮影された、英ロンドン近郊の首相別邸チェッカーズにケニアのウフル・ケニヤッタ大統領を迎えるボリス・ジョンソン首相）
　ジョンソン夫妻は昨年５月、ロンドンで非公開の結婚式を挙げ、その後の首相官邸でのガーデンパーティーでは新型コロナウイルス関連の規制により招待客の数は３０人に制限された。今月３０日には、ロンドン近郊にある首相別邸チェッカーズでより豪華な披露宴を開く予定だった。
　ジョンソン氏は、保守党の次期党首が選出されるまで首相職にとどまると説明しており、退任は１０月になる可能性もある。
　だがガーディアンやデーリー・ミラーなどの英各紙は、同氏が即時辞任しない理由の一つとして、チェッカーズを予定通り披露宴会場として利用する意図があると報道。招待状はすでに発送されたと伝えている。
　さらに、ジョンソン氏が首相官邸で辞任を表明した際、「ここチェッカーズの素晴らしい職員」に感謝すると言い間違えたことで、同氏がチェッカーズのことを考えていたのではないかとの批判も生まれている。
　ロンドンのサディク・カーン市長はラジオ局ＬＢＣに対し、「納税者の負担でチェッカーズにてぜいたくな結婚式を挙げたいのは皆同じだが、英国民が許さないため、ジョンソン氏はそれができないだろう」と語った。与野党からは、ジョンソン氏の即時辞任を求める声が上がっている。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2022/07/08-13:52）

After lavishly redecorating their Downing Street flat, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie now risk being homeless -- and face calls to find a new venue for their wedding party.
The couple married in a secret ceremony in London in May 2021 and were limited to having 30 guests to a garden party in Downing Street afterwards because of Covid restrictions.
They have been planning a more glamorous reception at Chequers, the prime minister's country retreat northwest of London, on July 30.
In announcing his resignation Thursday, Johnson said he would stay in office until a new Conservative leader is elected in the coming months, possibly until October.
But the Daily Mirror, Guardian and others reported that the timeline has more to do with his desire not to lose the perks of Chequers ahead of the bash, explaining that invitations had already gone out.
Critics said Johnson had the 16th century country home on his mind in his resignation speech outside 10 Downing Street, when at one point he misspoke in thanking the wonderful staff here at Chequers.
As much as we'd all like to have a lavish wedding at the taxpayer's expense in Chequers, he won't be able to do so because the British public will find it abhorrent, London mayor Sadiq Khan told LBC radio.
And those decent Tories... will not accept a situation where is seeking to stay on as prime minister for his personal benefit, rather than the national interest, the opposition Labour politician said.
Chequers was already the subject of recent headlines over claims that the Johnsons wanted to build a treehouse there worth £150,000 ($180,000) for their two-year-old son Wilf. They denied that.
But in another of the many scandals that have dogged his tenure, he had to repay tens of thousands of pounds for luxury wallpaper that he and Carrie used for a makeover of their government flat above 10 Downing Street.
The Johnsons now begin the search for a new home. They own at least two properties together, but one is a small London apartment, and both are said to be rented out.
Alastair Campbell, who was director of communications to Labour prime minister Tony Blair, said Johnson should not enjoy any more perquisites including a departing premier's right to nominate state honours.
He appears determined to squat in a country home so he can have his oligarch funders round for fun and games, and resignation honours parlour games, Campbell tweeted. Just go, crook.
Prominent Conservatives including former prime minister John Major also said it was dangerous politically to allow Johnson to cling on for so long.