UK's Boris Johnson sang 'I will survive' to new communications director Guto Harri

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson sang I Will Survive during his first meeting with his new communications director Guto Harri, who was appointed at the weekend to help reset his flagging premiership.

The prime minister has weathered a number of scandals in recent weeks, including the publication of a report on “partygate” that found an unacceptable level of alcohol consumption at Downing Street while the UK was under stringent lockdown measures.

Mr Johnson's team has also been hit by a series of senior resignations, while the influence of his wife Carrie Johnson on policy within No 10 has come under increased scrutiny from the media, leading to accusations of “misogyny” from her supporters.

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Mr Harri, who was appointed on Saturday, said in his first interview that he and Mr Johnson had launched into a rendition of Gloria Gaynor's hit song after he asked the prime minister if he could survive.

A former BBC journalist who worked for Mr Johnson when he was mayor of London, Mr Harri told the Welsh-language news website Golwg360 that the prime minister is “not a complete clown” and described their meeting on Friday.

“I walked in and I made a salute and said, 'Prime minister, Guto Harri reporting for duty' and he stood up from back to his desk and started taking the salute,” Mr Harri said in comments translated from Welsh to English.

“We were both laughing. Then I asked, 'Are you going to survive Boris?' And he said it in his deep voice, slowly and purposefully and started singing a little while finishing the sentence and saying I Will Survive.

“He invited me to say, 'You've got all your life to live' and he replied, 'I've got all my love to give', so we had a little blast of Gloria Gaynor.”

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s inner circle has been hit after five aides quit Downing Street. Chief of Staff Dan Rosenfield, above, resigned. PA

The resignation of Mr Johnson’s principal private secretary, Martin Reynolds, left, was also confirmed on a day of turmoil. AFP

Director of communications Jack Doyle resigned earlier on Thursday. PA

Munira Mirza, one of Mr Johnson’s most loyal and long-standing advisers, walked out over his use of a 'scurrilous' smear involving Jimmy Savile against Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer. PA

Elena Narozanski has become the second adviser to quit the No.10 policy unit. PA

The resignations have thrown the Prime Minister's leadership into further crisis. Getty Images

The prime minister's spokesman refused to comment when asked about Mr Johnson's conversation with his new communications director and if they sang the song.

Mr Johnson made other new appointments to his team at the weekend, with Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Steve Barclay becoming his chief of staff.

The Times reported No 10 was hoping to announce the return of Dame Emily Lawson as the new permanent secretary this week.

Dame Emily, who currently runs NHS England’s vaccination programme, was seconded to Downing Street’s delivery unit — a team in charge of ensuring the government delivers on its policies — in April last year before returning to the health service in October.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Sajid Javid branded the attacks on Ms Johnson “misogynistic” following revelations made in a soon-to-be published book by billionaire Lord Ashcroft.

Mr Javid said: “I just think as a general rule, a politician’s partner — any politician, any party — should be off limits.

“It’s the politician that has chosen to have a public life … I think the, this whole focus on Carrie Johnson in some of these reports, I think it’s very undignified and very unfair.”

if you go

The flights

Direct flights from the UAE to the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, are available with Air Arabia, (www.airarabia.com) Fly Dubai (www.flydubai.com) or Etihad (www.etihad.com) from Dh1,200 return including taxes. The trek described here started from Jomson, but there are many other start and end point variations depending on how you tailor your trek. To get to Jomson from Kathmandu you must first fly to the lake-side resort town of Pokhara with either Buddha Air (www.buddhaair.com) or Yeti Airlines (www.yetiairlines.com). Both charge around US$240 (Dh880) return. From Pokhara there are early morning flights to Jomson with Yeti Airlines or Simrik Airlines (www.simrikairlines.com) for around US$220 (Dh800) return.

The trek

Restricted area permits (US$500 per person) are required for trekking in the Upper Mustang area. The challenging Meso Kanto pass between Tilcho Lake and Jomson should not be attempted by those without a lot of mountain experience and a good support team. An excellent trekking company with good knowledge of Upper Mustang, the Annaurpuna Circuit and Tilcho Lake area and who can help organise a version of the trek described here is the Nepal-UK run Snow Cat Travel (www.snowcattravel.com). Prices vary widely depending on accommodation types and the level of assistance required.

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six

Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm

Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm

Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual

Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km

On sale: Available to order now

Price: From Dh801,800

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MATCH INFO

Northern Warriors 92-1 (10 ovs)

Russell 37 no, Billings 35 no

Team Abu Dhabi 93-4 (8.3 ovs)

Wright 48, Moeen 30, Green 2-22

Team Abu Dhabi win by six wickets

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

The specs

Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo

Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm

Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm

Transmission: Eight-speed auto

Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km

On sale: December

Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)

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if you go

The flights

Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Seoul from Dh3,775 return, including taxes

The package

Ski Safari offers a seven-night ski package to Korea, including five nights at the Dragon Valley Hotel in Yongpyong and two nights at Seoul CenterMark hotel, from £720 (Dh3,488) per person, including transfers, based on two travelling in January

The info

Visit www.gokorea.co.uk

COMPANY%20PROFILE

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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE