London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Apr 03, 2026

Boris Johnson 'won't self-isolate despite aide testing positive for Covid'

Boris Johnson 'won't self-isolate despite aide testing positive for Covid'

Boris Johnson won’t self-isolate despite a member of his team testing positive for Covid-19.

An aide who travelled to Scotland with the prime minister this week has reportedly been confirmed to have contracted the virus.

According to CNN, the PM continued with his tour despite the positive test among his entourage.

The person in question was with Mr Johnson on Wednesday and flew with him to Aberdeen before testing positive when they landed, an unnamed source told the broadcaster.

More than one member of the team had to go into isolation but Downing Street has confirmed Mr Johnson will not.

The Guardian claimed the pair were ‘side-by-side’ on several occasions but this has been denied by Number 10.

A Downing Street spokesperson told paper: ‘The prime minister regularly visits communities across the UK and all aspects of visits are carried out in line with covid guidance.

‘The prime minister has not come into close contact with anyone who has tested positive.’

Boris Johnson visited a number of premises on his visit to Scotland this week


It’s unclear what social-distancing measure were in place during the trip and how closely the aide was working with Mr Johnson.

From August 16, people who have received two doses of the vaccine will no longer need to self-isolate if they come into contact with a positive case.

But with 10 days to go, it remains to be seen if Mr Johnson will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace.

The confirmed positive case on his staff could risk a repeat of the U-turn after health secretary Sajid Javid caught the coronavirus.

Officials initially said the PM and chancellor Rishi Sunak would not isolate for 10 days but backed down after a fierce public backlash.

The pair were going to participate in a ‘trial study’ meaning they could be tested everyday rather than stay at home.

Mr Johnson later said in a video that he ‘did look briefly at the idea’ of avoiding self-isolation but reversed the position after just a couple of hours.

Labour Party Chief Anneliese Dodds accused the PM of ‘taking the public for fools’.

She said: ‘It’s clear the Prime Minister hasn’t learned anything from what happened last time he tried to cook up a reason to be above the rules everyone else has to follow.

‘Senior Conservatives are really taking the public for fools.

‘This is yet another example of one rule for them and another for everyone else.’

The trip to Scotland has not been the PR hit the Prime Minister might have hoped for.

He sparked fury by claiming Margaret Thatcher gave the UK a ‘big early start’ in the fight against climate change by closing mines, a deindustrialisation programme which decimated communities in the 1980s.

The comments were slammed as ‘shameful’ by Labour leader Keir Starmer, who said they amounted to ‘brushing off the devastating impact on those communities with a laugh’.

Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon has also criticised Mr Johnson for declining to meet with her to discuss post-pandemic recovery during the visit.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Trump’s Strategic Pressure on UK Seen as Push for Stronger Alignment and Fairer Terms
UK Focuses on Trade Finance to Secure Critical Materials for Defence and Energy Sectors
Majority of UK Businesses Hit by Middle East Conflict While Confidence Holds Firm
UK Royal Navy Faces Renewed Scrutiny as Debate Intensifies Over Capability and Readiness
Reform UK Faces Mounting Distractions as Policy Agenda Struggles to Gain Traction
Investigation Launched Into Northern Cyprus IVF Clinics After UK Families Receive Incorrect Sperm
International Meeting Issues Unified Call to Safeguard Navigation Through Strait of Hormuz
Potential Strait of Hormuz Closure Raises Concerns Over UK Food and Medicine Supply Chains
UK Leads Coalition of Over Forty Nations Urging Iran to Reopen Strait of Hormuz
UK Secures Tariff-Free Access for Medicines in Landmark US Pharma Trade Agreement
King Charles III Invited to Address Joint Session of U.S. Congress in Rare Diplomatic Honor
Debate Grows Over Whether Expanded North Sea Drilling Can Reduce UK Energy Bills
UK Faces Heightened Risk of Jet Fuel Shortages, Airline Chief Warns
UK Ends Police Investigations into Lawful Social Media Posts After Review Finds Overreach
Abramovich Moves to Establish Charity for Frozen Chelsea Sale Proceeds Amid UK Dispute
Starmer Reaffirms NATO Commitment While Responding to Trump’s Strategic Critique
UK Aid Reductions Raise Fears of Severe Human Impact Across Parts of Africa
UK Signals Renewed Push for EU Cooperation as Iran Conflict Reshapes Security Landscape
Bank of England Signals Caution as Bailey Advises Markets Against Expecting Rate Hikes
UK to Convene Global Coalition to Restore Shipping Through Strait of Hormuz
Trump Signals Possible NATO Reassessment, Emphasizes Stronger U.S. Strategic Autonomy
Australia Joins British-Led Efforts to Reopen Strait of Hormuz Amid Escalating Tensions
King Charles Plans US State Visit as UK Strengthens Ties with Trump Leadership
UK Regulator Launches Investigation Into Microsoft’s Business Software Practices
Kanye West Set for High-Profile Return to UK Stage at Wireless Festival
Trump Presses Europe to Strengthen Commitment as Iran Conflict Escalates
UK to Deploy Additional Troops to Middle East Amid Rising Regional Tensions
UK Authorities Face Claims of Heavy-Handed Measures in Monitoring Released Pro-Palestine Activists
Trump Calls on UK to Secure Its Own Energy as Iran Conflict Intensifies
Nigel Farage Declines Invitation to UK Conservative Conference Led by Liz Truss
Trump Warns Allies to Take Responsibility as Rift Deepens with UK and France Over Iran Conflict
How Britain’s Prime Minister Controls U.S. Bomber Access in Escalating Iran Conflict
Trump Urges Allies to Secure Their Own Oil Supplies as Hormuz Crisis Disrupts Global Energy
Russia Expels British Diplomat as UK Pushes Back Against Pressure
White House App Faces Scrutiny After Claims of Continuous User Location Tracking
BBC Faces Scrutiny Over Allegations of Paid Content Linked to Saudi Arabia
UK-France Coastal Patrol Agreement Nears Breakdown Amid Migration Pressures
UK Police Detain Pro-Palestine Activist Again Weeks After Bail Release
FTSE 100 Advances as Energy and Mining Shares Gain Amid Middle East Tensions
Eli Lilly Seeks UK Pricing Deal to Unlock Renewed Pharmaceutical Investment
Three Arrested in UK After Massive Cocaine Haul Discovered Hidden in Banana Shipment
UK Fuel Prices Poised for Further Surge Amid Global Energy Pressures
Apple Subsidiary Penalized by UK Authorities for Breach of Moscow Sanctions
Western Allies Intensify Coordinated Sanctions Strategy Against Russia
UK Lawmakers Face Criticism Over Renewed Push for Social Media Restrictions
Starmer Signals UK Crackdown on Addictive Social Media Features
Rising Costs Push One in Five UK Hospitality Businesses to the Brink of Closure
Man Arrested on Suspicion of Attempted Murder After Car Strikes Pedestrians in UK, Injuring Seven
Escalating Conflict Involving Iran Tightens Fiscal Pressures and Highlights UK Economic Vulnerabilities
UK Moves to Confront Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Operating in Its Waters
×