Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Boris Johnson’s Costa del Sol holiday during energy crisis is ‘reasonable’, cabinet minister says

Business secretary says he is regular contact with the PM via WhatsApp

Jon Stone
Policy Correspondent
Sunday 10 October 2021 16:47 EDT
Comments
Go about your business 'in normal way', Boris Johnson tells motorists amidst fuel crisis

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

It is “reasonable” for Boris Johnson to go on holiday while the government battle with the deepening energy crisis, a cabinet minister has said.

Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng on Sunday defended the prime minister’s decisions to fly to Marbella for a break.

Mr Kwarteng, the minister responsible for the government’s crisis response, said he was in regular contact with the prime minister via WhatsApp.

“I believe he has gone away. I’m not sure where he’s gone,” Mr Kwarteng said.

“But what I would say is I am in regular contact with him. He’s also had a year-and-a-half in which he’s almost lost his life to Covid, his mother passed away very sadly two or three weeks ago and he may have decided to take a short break.

“I think that’s something reasonable.

“I’m in regular WhatsApp contact with him, I spoke to him only a few days ago. I’m not sure when he’s supposed to have left the country.”

The prime minister is reported to be holidaying at a private villa on the Costa del Sol.

But it was left to Mr Kwarteng to assure the country that supplies of energy would not be interrupted during the winter.

Back in August, then foreign secretary Dominic Raab, persuaded Boris Johnson to allow him to stay on holiday in Crete during the Afghanistan crisis.

Mr Raab memorably dismissed claims that he had been paddle-boarding while Kabul fell, claiming that “the sea was actually closed”.

The prime minister cut short his summer holiday in Somerset this year after just one day when the Taliban seized Kabul in August. He returned to the West Country shortly after the last UK troops left Afghanistan.

His domestic holiday last summer in Scotland nearly ended in “catastrophe” after he was swept out to sea while paddle-boarding.

His winter 2019 holiday to the Caribbean led to him being brought before the Commons standards committee due to a discrepancy over how the trip was funded.

Spain was on the amber list for overseas travel until last Monday when the traffic light system was scrapped. Fully vaccinated travellers are now only required to take a test on day two after returning to the UK.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in