Use your own ‘personal judgment’ Downing Street says after PM’s bike ride

Boris Johnson cycling in 2018 
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Everyone must make “personal judgments” about whether their actions fall within Government guidelines, Downing Street has said during a grilling over Boris Johnson’s bike ride.  

The Prime Minister’s Official spokesman and his Press Secretary have insisted the Prime Minister acted within the guidelines when he was spotted seven miles from Downing Street cycling around the Olympic Park on Sunday afternoon.  

During a lengthy exchange over the bike ride, Number 10 refused to give answers to reporters about whether the PM combined it with a visit, why the PM did not choose a park closer to home and if drove or cycled to the park. 

The exchange came after the pair were grilled over major Government business including vaccinations, lockdown and free school meals.  

Some of those questions and answers in full:

Q. Can you tell us, was the PM driven to the Olympic Park for his exercise on Sunday?

A. PM’s official spokesman: “As you know, it’s a long standing policy that we don’t get into prime-ministerial movements on security grounds. The point is though that he was there taking exercise which is in accordance with the guidance.”

Q. The guidance says ‘stay local’ means stay in the village, town, or part of the city where you live. Are Westminster and Stratford in the same part of London?

A. PM’s official spokesman: “The Prime Minister acted in accordance with the covid guidance while he was exercising. We’ve always trusted the public to exercise good judgment throughout the pandemic when we have asked them to exercise locally and as I say the Prime Minister acted in accordance with the guidance.”

Q. Does the Prime Minister regret going for his bike ride on Sunday? Was it something he will do again?

A. PM’s Press Secretary Allegra Stratton: “He will be doing bike rides again. You all know how much he loves his bike. And we are encouraging everybody including the Prime Minister, members of the cabinet, to do exercise daily. It’s really important to keep healthy. In terms of this particular bike ride on Sunday you heard he acted in accordance with the covid guidance at all times.”

Q. Why did he go to the Olympic Park when there’s much closer parks to Downing Street than that one?

A. PM’s Press Secretary Allegra Stratton: “It was in accordance with the guidelines and I can’t comment on his movements and where he exercises.”

Q. Was the Prime Minister’s journey to the Olympic Park part of a journey for something else – a meeting or an official visit?

A. PM’s official spokesman: “Again, we don’t comment on the Prime Minister’s movements. The point is he was taking exercise which is within the guidance.”

Q. If people are challenged by the police for being too far from their own home when exercising is it fair for them to say ‘well it’s my personal judgment’?

A. PM’s official spokesman: "We have asked the public to exercise good judgment throughout the pandemic on this and we are clear that people should be able to exercise once a day given the benefits of doing so. That obviously means different things for different people which is why we are asking people to exercise their own good judgment.”

Q. Is there a problem that when you are asking people to use their good judgment that there is going to be a small minority that will abuse that or push things to the limit?

A: PM’s Press Secretary Allegra Stratton: “People up and down the country using their personal judgment has stood us in very good stead so far in this pandemic. The Prime Minister is grateful to the public for doing the right thing in the vast majority of cases."

Q. Is it fair enough there are special circumstances surrounding the Prime Minister and maybe he does need to go to the Olympic park to exercise?

A: PM’s Press Secretary Allegra Stratton: “Reasonable question. There is, however, nothing special about the Prime Minister going on a bike ride and nor should there be. We are encouraging all members of the public to exercise once a day and if that’s a bike ride then go for it.”

Q. Was there anyone else with him when he was exercising?  

A: PM’s Press Secretary Allegra Stratton: “We can’t comment on who was with him.”  

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