Boris Johnson ‘almost took one for the team’ over coronavirus, says dad Stanley
Boris Johnson sits next to his father Stanley (left) on the Bakerloo Line while mayor of London. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA. - Credit: PA
Boris Johnson 'almost took one for the team' over the coronavirus, and will now need a period of rest, his dad has said.
Stanley Johnson said the whole family is 'amazingly grateful' for the efforts of the NHS and for the huge outpouring of support for his son, and played down suggestions that the prime minister will quickly return to work at Number 10, saying he 'has to take time'.
In an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Johnson Snr said his son's illness had underlined the seriousness of the pandemic.
'To use that American expression, he almost took one for the team. We have got to make sure we play the game properly now,' he said.
'This is pretty straightforward now,' he went on.
You may also want to watch:
'He must rest up. As I understand it, he has moved from the ICU into a recovery unit but I don't think you can say this is out of the woods now.
'He has to take time. I cannot believe you can walk away from this and get straight back to Downing Street and pick up the reins without a period of readjustment.'
Most Read
- 1 Pro-Brexit fishing campaigner says Boris Johnson's deal has left her with 'no fish'
- 2 Nigel Farage reminded of claim that 'acid test of Brexit' surrounds fishing after clip resurfaces
- 3 European parliament agrees to add British overseas territories to post-Brexit tax haven blacklist
- 4 Ed Miliband mocks Kwasi Kwarteng's 'road to Damascus conversion'
- 5 Telegraph columnist blames Angela Merkel for Brexit
- 6 Piers Morgan causes hilarity with 'Priti Patel with a brain' jibe
- 7 Brussels to launch campaign teaching younger Britons about the EU
- 8 Backlash over Tory MP receiving Covid-19 vaccine despite not being classed as vulnerable
- 9 Boris Johnson to visit Scotland this week in attempt to shore up the union
- 10 SNP MP asks Priti Patel why she has not stood down following UK border comments
Johnson Senior's comments are likely to be taken as a further indication that foreign secretary Dominic Raab will continue to deputise for the PM in the coming days.
The PM was admitted to hospital on Sunday evening for tests due to suffering continuing symptoms of Covid-19, having tested positive for the virus 10 days earlier.
He now appears to be on the road to recovery, with Downing Street saying that he has left intensive care and is being closely monitored.
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.