In a quiet Cotswolds hamlet, Boris Johnson was seen merrily ringing in the New Year with friends.
The former prime minister was seen in a dark room, shouting the New Year’s eve countdown into a microphone at what is thought to be a Charlbury, Oxfordshire, bar.
Mr. Johnson looked to be enjoying the beginning of 2023 at a barn dance where line dancing was even happening, surrounded by individuals wearing cowboy hats and with hay on the floor.
According to social media postings, he was joined by his wife Carrie Johnson and sister Rachel Johnson.
While others screamed “Happy New Year” and confetti dropped, the MP for Uxbridge and South Ruslip, who was leading the countdown, seemed to check his watch to see whether it was midnight before screaming “2023.”
The video then cuts off as he is seen hugging people around.
In a brief social media video posted earlier that day, Mr. Johnson acknowledged that 2022 had been a “very turbulent” year but expressed confidence that “things will get better” in 2023.
The brief video said nothing about his unsatisfactory departure from Downing Street in July or how quickly his replacement Liz Truss had to vacate No. 10.
While he avoided specifically addressing the cost-of-living problem, the former prime minister expressed confidence that the economy will recover in 2023 as a result of evidence of global inflation slowing.
He put a lot of focus on the current conflict in Ukraine, saying he was “more sure than ever” that Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, would lose there even if there were indications that inflation was decreasing globally.
After the epidemic was over, Mr. Johnson continued with a motivating speech about the outlook for the economy and the chances provided by Brexit.
After a rather turbulent year in which we lost our beloved Queen and saw the beginning of the deadliest war in Europe in 80 years, he added, “2022 is tiptoeing towards the exit.”
“I want to share with you why I am optimistic about 2023 and why I believe things will improve.”
Our post-Covid, post-pandemic UK will finally begin to benefit from all of our new freedoms, extending our lead as the finest location on earth to invest, establish a company, raise a family, or just hang out in the pub, which is what I intend to do this New Year’s Eve.
It is uncertain which of three pubs—The Bull, the Rose & Crown, or Ye Olde Three Horseshoes—the Johnson family was having a celebration, although it may have been one of them.
According to the Oxford Mail, former Witney MP and another previous Tory Prime Minister David Cameron are known to frequent The Bull in Charlbury.
A study conducted earlier this week revealed that among Conservative members, Boris Johnson is more well-liked than Rishi Sunak, his chancellor Jeremy Hunt, and his predecessor Liz Truss.
According to a Conservative Home poll, the former prime minister was closely followed by veteran Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, International Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch, and Home Secretary Suella Braverman.
In the aftermath of his support for Ukraine, Mr. Wallace, who has worked under three prime ministers this year, was by far and above the most well-liked Conservative.
The survey indicates that Mr. Sunak, who came in fifth place and ended five votes behind Mr. Johnson, may still have some work to do to win over the general public.
After losing to Ms Truss in the leadership election held in the summer, he was elected to the position in October by MPs rather than party members.
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