Stanley Johnson pictured in Greece after ignoring PM’s travel advice

Stanley Johnson is pictured in Greece after ignoring his Prime Minister son’s ‘essential travel only’ advice and jetting off to his mountain-top villa

  • PM’s father Stanley Johnson is spotted at a tavern last night in Pelion, Greece
  • It comes after he flew to villa in brazen defiance of pandemic travel warnings
  • Foreign Office guidance still says no Britons should travel unless it is essential
  • Dodged Greek ban on direct flights by flying from Luton to Athens via Bulgaria
  • Boris refused to condemn him, saying: ‘You really ought to raise that with him’

The Prime Minister’s father Stanley Johnson was spotted at a tavern in Greece last night after he flew to his villa in brazen defiance of pandemic travel warnings.

Stanley Johnson, 79, jetted to his four-bed mountain-view home in Pelion – ignoring Foreign Office guidance which says no one should travel unless it is essential.

The former Tory Euro-MP dodged Greece’s ban on direct flights from the UK by flying from Luton to Athens via Bulgaria, sharing videos and images of his journey online.

Last night, Stanley Johnson was photographed looking at his mobile phone with a glass of red wine on a table while sitting alone at Martha’s restaurant in Horto village.

Boris Johnson did not condemn him today, telling LBC Radio: ‘I think you really ought to raise that with him. I am not going to get into details of family conversations. 

Stanley Johnson was photographed last night looking at his mobile phone with a glass of red wine on a table while sitting alone at Martha’s restaurant at Horto in Mount Pelion, Greece 

The Prime Minister's father Stanley Johnson was spotted at the tavern in Greece last night

The Prime Minister’s father Stanley Johnson was spotted at the tavern in Greece last night

‘I think the overwhelming majority of the British people have understood what needs to be done and have been very prudent, and that is the right thing to do.’

Speaking from his villa – which he lets out to tourists – Stanley Johnson said Greek officials were happy to allow him in and the ban only seemed to apply to ‘bulk arrivals’ of British holidaymakers.

MPs said the incident ‘stinks of one rule for them and another rule for the rest of us’ and claimed it echoed No 10 aide Dominic Cummings’ infamous lockdown trip to Barnard Castle.

More than 400,000 sunseekers are thought to have had their Greek holidays ruined by government delays in relaxing the global travel warning, along with Greece’s decision to ban direct flights from the UK until July 15.

During the lockdown, Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said foreign summer holidays are effectively cancelled following the Foreign Office travel warning.

Stanley Johnson posted a selfie on his Instagram feed during his trip to Greece on Wednesday

Stanley Johnson posted a selfie on his Instagram feed during his trip to Greece on Wednesday

Mr Johnson travelled to his mountain retreat in Pelion, outside Athens, pictured, where he claimed he was making it Covid secure ahead of the letting season for holiday makers

Mr Johnson travelled to his mountain retreat in Pelion, outside Athens, pictured, where he claimed he was making it Covid secure ahead of the letting season for holiday makers 

Boris Johnson did not condemn his father today, telling LBC Radio (pictured): 'I think you really ought to raise that with him. I am not going to get into details of family conversations'

Boris Johnson did not condemn his father today, telling LBC Radio (pictured): ‘I think you really ought to raise that with him. I am not going to get into details of family conversations’

As a Greek news website branded Stanley Johnson’s trip ‘unbelievable’, MPs urged Boris Johnson to explain why his father appears to be bound by a ‘different set of rules’ to those imposed on ordinary holidaymakers.

Labour’s aviation spokesman Mike Kane said: ‘The Government have been all over the place with their plans for a quarantine or air bridges, but what is clear is that the guidance is against any foreign travel at the moment.’

Speaking in the Commons, Liberal Democrat Alistair Carmichael said: ‘This is simply further evidence that when it comes to following the rules, it is one rule for the Conservatives and one rule for everyone else.

‘Whilst the Prime Minister is continuing to ask people to make huge sacrifices… he must reflect on how much of a kick in the teeth these reports will be.’

Labour’s Rosena Allin-Khan, a shadow minister and A&E doctor, wrote on Twitter: ‘Most people have been following the guidelines and socially distancing – not everyone will get a holiday this year.

Stanley Johnson flew via Sofia, Bulgaria to avoid Greece's ban on direct flights from the UK

Stanley Johnson flew via Sofia, Bulgaria to avoid Greece’s ban on direct flights from the UK

Prime Minister Boris Johnson with his father Stanley at a book launch in London in 2014

Prime Minister Boris Johnson with his father Stanley at a book launch in London in 2014 

‘Those closest to the Prime Minister have different rules though.’ Fellow Labour MP Kate Osborne added: ‘They’re laughing directly in the face of people up and down this country. Shame.’

Liberal Democrat Jamie Stone said the incident ‘stinks of one rule for them and another rule for the rest of us’.

The Foreign Office currently advises British nationals ‘against all but essential international travel’. It is up to travellers to decide whether their trip is essential.

Mr Johnson said on Wednesday night: ‘I’m in Pelion on essential business trying to Covid-proof my property in view of the upcoming letting season. I need to set up distancing measures at the property because they’re taking it very seriously here.’

The Prime Minister’s spokesman said: ‘In relation to Foreign Office advice, that is what it is – it is advice. It is for individuals to make judgments themselves.’

Stanley Johnson declined to comment further yesterday.

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