Tory London mayoral hopeful compared to Donald Trump over Partygate tweets

12 April 2024 , 19:39

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Susan Hall, the Tory candidate to be London Mayor, has faced criticism for her tweets in the past (Image: Tayfun Salci/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock)

The Tories’ candidate to be Mayor of London tried to dismiss the Partygate scandal of Boris Johnson breaking the law.

As Prime Minister in 2020, Mr Johnson flouted Covid restrictions that he helped create by attending a surprise birthday do in Downing Street. Despite repeated denials that any rules were broken, he was fined by the Metropolitan Police in 2022.

Susan Hall, who is challenging Labour's Sadiq Khan to be Mayor of London, took to social media to defend Mr Johnson in 2022 and to downplay the rule-breaking that led to his ousting from Downing Street. She posted a clip on X where an audience member defended the ex-PM, adding: "It is simply #Boris bashing. Let’s move on!"

Ms Hall also claimed the outcry over the Mirror’s revelations about Dominic Cummings's lockdown trip to Barnard Castle in 2020 was a "media witch hunt". She also said: "This situation regarding Cummings is fast becoming a total witch hunt, orchestrated by the left. They knew about it weeks ago released at optimum time to cause unrest - a disgrace!"

Labour MP Rosena Allin-Khan, who worked as an A&E doctor during the pandemic, said: "It is astonishing to learn that the Tory Mayoral candidate defended Boris Johnson’s partying at the height of the pandemic.” She added: “These latest tweets from Susan Hall in which she attacks the media, defends rule-breaking and promotes a conspiracy theory are reminiscent of the ugliest politics of Donald Trump.”

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Former Harrow Council leader Ms Hall has previously come under fire for claiming Jewish Londoners are afraid of Mr Khan and for showing support for Donald Trump. She refused to apologise for her comments about Mr Khan last year, telling Sky News: ""I will never apologise for standing up for our Jewish community."

It comes as Mr Johnson once again refused to rule out one day returning as an MP. The former Prime Minister hinted that a return was possible in the future while speaking to students at Georgetown University, Washington.

Asked if he would stand again, he said: “I think it’s unlikely in the short-term. I think the only circumstances in which anybody should stand for election is if they have something to contribute.”

Mr Johnson quit as an MP in fury after the Privileges Committee prepared to hand him a 90-day suspension from Parliament for misleading Parliament over Partygate. He would need to find a new seat - or persuade the new Uxbridge and South Ruislip MP Steve Tuckwell to stand aside.

Lizzy Buchan