近来，英国单日新增新冠确诊病例数连创新高，变异病毒奥密克戎毒株在英国各地加速传播。然而，比起来势汹汹的新一波疫情，英国首相鲍里斯约翰逊还面临着其他问题。

据英国《卫报》19日的独家报道，有照片显示，约翰逊曾在去年5月15日封城期间，在唐宁街10号的花园里与众人喝酒聚会。唐宁街10号是首相府邸所在。去年4月，约翰逊曾因感染新冠入院治疗，一度病情恶化，在重症监护室度过几晚，后来康复出院。

A photo has emerged that appears to show British Prime Minister Boris Johnson drinking wine with Downing Street staff during the country's first coronavirus lockdown last year. The image, shared with British newspaper The Guardian, purports to show an outdoor gathering that took place on May 15, 2020. Staff can be seen gathered in the garden at Downing Street, which is also the Prime Minister's residence.




照片中可以看到，约翰逊和当时还是未婚妻的西蒙兹以及两名工作人员围坐一桌，桌上有瓶装酒和一盘奶酪。

Johnson is photographed with then-fiancée Carrie Symonds and two others seated at a table. On the table are bottles of wine and a cheeseboard.

此外，有4人围坐在另一张桌旁，9人站在草地上的一张桌子旁，另有2人坐在不远处的地上。

Four other members of staff are sat around a second table. Nine people are then gathered closely together around a table on the grass, with another two sat on the ground nearby.

据CNN报道，当时英国还在执行相关防疫措施，包括限制不同家庭间社交人数（2人），必须在户外见面并保持2米以上的距离。而在工作场合，防疫指导意见表示，当面会见仅在“绝对必需”的条件下才能成行。

Social distancing restrictions at the time meant that mixing between households was limited to two people, who could only meet outdoors and at a distance of at least 2 meters (6.5 feet). In workplaces, guidance said in-person meetings should only take place if "absolutely necessary."

约翰逊：当时在工作

上周日，唐宁街的发言人回应了照片事件：“夏天的时候，唐宁街的花园里经常召开工作会议。图片上的情况是，新闻发布会后，工作人员在开会。唐宁街是首相的家，也是工作场所。首相夫人也住在这里，所以出现在花园里也是合情合理。”

Last Sunday, a Downing Street spokesperson responded to the image, saying, "Work meetings often take place in the Downing Street garden in the summer months. On this occasion there were staff meetings following a No. 10 press conference.""Downing Street is the Prime Minister's home as well as his workplace. The Prime Minister's wife lives in No. 10 and therefore also legitimately uses the garden."

BBC则报道了约翰逊本人于周一的回应：“当时大家在工作，在谈论工作。”那么工作时可以喝酒吗？对此，约翰逊回答：“我已经说了我想说的。”

Asked about the image on Monday, Mr Johnson told reporters: "Those were people at work, talking about work." Pressed on whether it was acceptable for people to be drinking whilst working, he replied: "I have said what I have to say about that."

据《卫报》报道，唐宁街的回应中提到的那次发布会上，时任卫生大臣汉考克还在给公众提醒，尽管天气暖和了，大家还是要严格遵守社交距离规定。受限于相关措施，当时英国学校没有开放，酒吧餐厅也没有营业。

The Guardian pointed out that, in the news conference on the same day as the photo, then-Health Secretary Matt Hancock had warned the public to stick to social distancing rules, despite the warm weather. At the time schools were still shut and pubs and restaurants were closed, with strict controls on social mixing.

汉考克同样也出现在了花园中，不过他的发言人表示，汉考克在晚5点53左右结束发布会，来到唐宁街花园向首相汇报工作，并于晚6点半左右离开，没有证据显示汉考克喝了酒或待到很晚。

“After the press conference, which finished at approximately 5.53pm, Matt debriefed his own team, then went to the Downing Street garden to debrief the prime minister. He left Downing Street at 6.32pm and went back to the Department for Health and Social Care,” Hancock’s spokesperson said. There is no suggestion he was drinking or stayed late.

显然这些说辞令不少人质疑，比如网友们熟识的“捕鼠大臣”拉里的账号上，就写了这样一番话：英国政府坚称这是工作会议的照片。没有纸笔和会议记录；没有展示图片、电脑或者展板，却有桌上的饮料酒品和奶酪……你相信他们说的吗？



CNN报道称，照片事件是约翰逊近来曝出的一系列丑闻之一。此前还有报道显示，，约翰逊曾于去年圣诞期间在首相府邸聚餐，当时英国也有相关防疫措施，他的行为涉嫌违法。而约翰逊方面则一直坚称，没有违反过任何防疫要求。

The photo is the latest in a string of scandals surrounding Johnson in recent weeks. The British Prime Minister has been buffeted by multiple claims that social events were held inside 10 Downing Street in the runup to Christmas 2020, when the country was under coronavirus regulations that outlawed such activities. Johnson has insisted that he believes no rules were broken.

综合来源：CNN，BBC，The Guardian，观察者网，新华网