He boasted about shedding the pounds in an effort to get healthier after admitting ‘I was too fat’ when he contracted Covid-19.
But it appears Boris Johnson‘s weight-loss drive has faltered as he looked a little portly again while leaving Downing Street today.
Between dealing with the spread of the Omicron variant and the scandal surrounding an ‘illegal’ Christmas gathering at No.10, it seems Mr Johnson, 57, might be struggling to find time to fit in the regular runs that kept him fit during lockdown.
The stress might also driving Mr Johnson to reach for comfort food like cheese, chocolate and carbs, which he cut down on after being admitted to hospital with Covid in April 2020.
The Prime Minister, who weighed 16st 7lb when he contracted the virus, had shed a stone by summer 2020 and there were reports in March of a planned wardrobe overhaul to dress his slimmer physique.
But today Mr Johnson, who has spoken openly about his fluctuating weight, left his blazer unbuttoned as he left Downing Street for Prime Minister’s Questions, perhaps a sign his clothes are fitting a little more snuggly than usual.
TODAY: Boris Johnson boasted earlier this year about shedding the pounds in an effort to get healthier. But it appears Boris Johnson’s weight-loss drive has faltered as he looked a little portly again while leaving Downing Street today, pictured
JULY 2020: The Prime Minister, who weighed 16st 7lb when he contracted the virus in April 2020, had shed a stone by summer 2020 (as seen above) and there were reports in March of a planned wardrobe overhaul to dress his slimmer physique
It comes weeks after Labour MP Ben Bradshaw, of Exeter, drew criticism when he pointed out the Prime Minister had ‘put on weight again’ in a tweet.
Mr Johnson, who has previously revealed he weighed 16.5st in 2018, while he was Foreign Secretary, overhauled his lifestyle when he started dating future wife Carrie.
In January 2019, Mr Johnson revealed he had lost 12 lbs by quitting alcohol and ‘late-night binges of chorizo and cheese’, with Twitter users saying it was a ‘loved up diet’. By March he looked even slimmer when he made headlines with his neat haircut and trim appearance.
But fast-forward a year and Mr Johnson was once again struggling with his weight. He famously admitted ‘I was too fat’ after he was taken into intensive care when he was hospitalised with Covid-19 in April 2020.
Shaken by the experience, the Prime Minister embarked on a fitness and healthy eating regime, backed by Carrie.
‘She eats incredibly healthily which makes things a lot easier,’ a source close to the couple said.
The Prime Minister appeared eager to stick by the promise he had made to himself and was spotted out running with their dog, Dilyn, in London and in the countryside near Chequers.
MARCH 2019: A trim Boris Johnson in March 2019. Health-conscious Carrie Johnson was credited with shaping her husband’s new look, and introducing him to a healthier diet
MARCH 2020: Mr Johnson at No. 10, shortly before he was admitted to hospital with Covid-19. The Prime Minister revealed he weighed 18st 7lb and conceded that he needed to lose weight
JULY 2020: The Prime Minister reportedly lost a stone over the summer of 2020, thanks to a diet overhaul and introducing more exercise. Pictured, on a run with Dilyn in July 2020
AUGUST 2020: Mr Johnsons cut out ‘late-night cheese’, eats less chocolate and ran regularly while trying to lose weight. Pictured, looking svelte at an event in August 2020
His hard work paid off. The PM claimed to have lost a stone in the summer of 2020 and his physique looked trim as a result of his lockdown fitness regime.
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By March 2021, he was nearly two stone lighter than he was when he contracted Covid after cutting down on carbs, chocolate and cheese.
At the time he said: ‘I’ve been doing everything I can to lose weight and to feel fitter and healthier. I have lost quite a lot by my standards, and I feel much more energetic, I feel full of beans and I thoroughly recommend it.’
However his weight has slowly crept up over the last nine months and in recent weeks his physique has become the subject of conversation on social media.
Last month Labour MP Ben Bradshaw, of Exeter, drew criticism when he pointed out the change in the Prime Minister’s appearance, tweeting that he had ‘put on weight again’ in response to photos of a hospital visit.
MARCH 2021: By March 2021, he was nearly two stone lighter than he was when he contracted Covid after cutting down on carbs, chocolate and cheese
APRIL 2021: Mr Johnson famously admitted ‘I was too fat’ after he was taken into intensive care when he was hospitalised with the virus last April. He was pictured exercising regularly over lockdown. Pictured, Mr Johnson on a run with dog Dilyn in April 2021
Today Mr Johnson opened a raucous PMQs by saying sorry for the footage of Allegra Stratton and other staff joking about the gathering which happened on December 18 last year, during lockdown.
The former spokeswoman for the PM tonight announced she had quit offering a ‘profound apology’ for giving the impression that she was ‘making light’ of Covid rules.
In emotional comments to journalists near her London home, Ms Stratton said: ‘My remarks seemed to make light of rules, rules that people were doing everything to obey. That was never my intention.
‘I will regret those remarks for the rest of my days.’
In the video, Ms Stratton suggested she had not personally attended the party – quipping that she ‘went home’ instead.
The move came hours after Boris Johnson tried to quell mounting fury by ordering an investigation by the Cabinet Secretary.
NOVEMBER 2021: Labour MP Ben Bradshaw, of Exeter, drew criticism when he pointed out the change in the Prime Minister’s appearance, tweeting last month that he had ‘put on weight again’ in response to these photos from a hospital visit
TODAY: Mr Johnson left his blazer unbuttoned as he left Downing Street for Prime Minister’s Questions, perhaps a sign his clothes are fitting a little more snuggly than usual
Mr Johnson said the government’s top civil servant Simon Case – who is not believed to have attended the party – would be looking into the situation.
Mr Johnson said he was ‘sickened’ and ‘disciplinary action’ would be taken against any staff found to have breached the regulations, but insisted he had been ‘repeatedly’ assured the rules had been followed.
The premier appealed for the public to focus on the threat from the Omicron strain – with Plan B measures expected to be confirmed as early as this afternoon. But Keir Starmer shot back that Mr Johnson had lost the ‘moral authority’ to impose restrictions.
Tory MPs also hammered the PM by branding the Covid switch a ‘diversionary tactic’ from the No10 party row, while Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross warned he will have to resign if he knew about the gathering when he issued denials.
Meanwhile, former chief aide Dominic Cummings has waded in by alleging that there was a party in Mr Johnson’s grace-and-favour flat on November 13 last year, the day he was ousted from Downing Street.
Mr Case will also look at claimed former Education Secretary Gavin Williamson hosted a bash during the festive season, but significantly he will not consider any other events – meaning nothing the PM personally attended is in scope.
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