11 January 2023 , 18:48
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After being hospitalised with Covid Boris Johnson pledged to ditch “late night cheese” in a bid to lose weight.
Now it appears a portrait artist has also been tasked with helping him slim down.
The former Prime Minister unveiled an oil painting of himself looking svelte to around 100 of his supporters at a private members’ club in London on Tuesday night.
The lavish artwork shows Mr Johnson smirking, with his arms folded, his tie fastened tightly and his hair slicked into an only slightly less dishevelled style than normal.
Guests who attended the Carlton Club for the portrait’s presentation enjoyed a £120-a-ticket dinner and a speech from Mr Johnson in which he echoed Winston Churchill: “Never give in, keep fighting.”
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The venue was where whip Chris Pincher was accused of groping two men in June, a scandal that ultimately led to Mr Johnson’s downfall.
As polling continues to show the nation wants Labour in power, the MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip claimed the Conservative party will “recover”.
Mr Johnson went on: “When the moment of real electoral decision approaches - and it will - people will realise that there is only one party that yearns to reduce the burden of tax… There is only one party that really believes in extending the joys of home ownership… There is only one party with the guts to stand up to the union barons.”
He closed by recycling an old and tired insult as he called Keir Starmer, “Sir crasheroonie snoozefest”.
Boris Johnson leaving the Carlton Club last night, while being yelled at by protester Steve Bray (GC Images)On the same evening, the Mirror revealed Mr Johnson was residing in a £20million London property owned by the wife of Tory donor Lord Bamford - and it is not clear what if any rent he pays.
Demands for a Commons probe into his living arrangements arose, as millions of people struggle to keep a roof over their head in the cost of living crisis.
It also emerged yesterday Mr Johnson boasted about being at the “most unsocially distanced party in the UK” while the nation was in lockdown.
Responding to the fresh partygate allegations, Keir Starmer’s spokesman said: "As the disgraced Prime Minister is plotting his comeback, he reminds us, yet again, why he is totally unfit for office.”