BORIS BLAST
Boris Johnson doubles down on calling Chris Whitty attackers ‘thugs’ after they demanded apology from PM
BORIS Johnson today doubled-down on calling a yob who grabbed Chris Whitty a "despicable thug" after he claimed the PM should apologise.
The PM made the comment after Jonathan Chew and pal Lewis Hughes, both 24, were filmed manhandling England’s chief medical officer.
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The pair were at an anti-lockdown protest in central London on Sunday when they spotted the top medic.
Shocking footage then showed them putting Prof Whitty in a headlock as he desperately tried to get away.
Boris' official spokesperson today confirmed he stands by his "previous comments".
But he refused to answer whether it was right Hughes had been sacked from his job as an estate agent in the aftermath.
The No10 spokesperson said: "That would be a matter for their employer."
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It comes after Chew, who suffers from ADHD and autism told The Sun he wanted Boris to say sorry to him.
He added: “I don’t think we did anything wrong, we just saw him, and thought that’s the guy from the TV. He’s been on our screens every-day for the last year, he’s famous.
“We just wanted a selfie that was it, I don’t think he wanted to take the photo but I don’t think we did anything wrong.
“People in the street recognised me and have been having a go since the video has gone online. It has affected my mental health.”
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It comes after pal Hughes revealed he had lost his job as an estate agent after his boss saw the 18-second clip.
The boxing enthusiast apologised through The Sun and said: “I’ve paid the price with my job.”
Hughes, who worked for Caplen Estates Agents, admitted having a couple of drinks before he approached Prof Whitty.
He said: “I absolutely apologise for any upset I caused.
“If I made him feel uncomfortable, which it does look like I did, then I am sorry to him for that.
“He is quite a timid, shy person and I think that is why he didn’t say, ‘Get off me’. If he had said that and I had realised how he felt, I wouldn’t have put my arm round him.
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“To be honest I just wanted a selfie with Chris Whitty to show my mum. There was no malicious intent, I didn’t want to upset him.
"I put my arm around him but he started moving away so my arm ended up going around his neck more.”
He went on: “I feel very let down by Boris, for him to call me a thug. I actually voted for him as well.
“I have worked every day of my life since I left college, I have never been in any trouble. Now I have to start from the beginning again and I loved my job.”
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Lewis, from Romford, Essex, said the police have told him they would not be taking further action.
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Police, who took the pair’s details, said they were still investigating the incident — recorded as a common assault.
Prof Whitty said he did not want to make a formal complaint.
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