JD Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin on Number 10 partygate: “Boris should have gone to the pub”.

JD WETHERSPOON weighed in to the Number 10 “partygate” scandal today, saying it would not have been a problem if the government had the sense to have kept the pubs open.

Outspoken founder and chairmanTim Martin, a Tory donor and sometime Boris Johnson backer, noted in an update to the City today that:

1) Central London pubs employ experienced staff, including highly trained managers, who would have easily dealt with the “high jinks” alleged to have occurred at No. 10.

2) CCTV is in operation in Central London pubs, so subsequent enquiries as to events are facilitated by the ready availability of evidence.

3) In 2020, before vaccinations were available, Covid controls in pubs were superior to private parties, with screens, sanitisers, optimal seating layouts and so on.

‘Spoons saw sales fall by 11.7% in the 25 weeks to January 16. That means the 800-strong chain will be loss making in the first half of the year.

The company noted that since Wetherspoon’s staff and customers normally pay around £15 million in tax each week, the public finances would be in far better shape if pubs had been allowed to stay open.

It added: “There are well documented social and health benefits from open hospitality venues, especially for people who don’t, or can’t, attend private parties.”