UK's Johnson: I need to lose weight but becoming vegan would cheese me off

[January 15, 2020]    LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he wants to lose weight in 2020, but will not do "Veganuary" - the popular practice of becoming vegan in January - as it would take too much concentration and mean giving up cheese.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks in the Stormont Parliament Buildings in Belfast, Northern Ireland, January 13, 2020. Liam McBurney/Pool via REUTERS

"I had thought of it but it requires so much concentration. I do take my hat off to vegans who can handle it," he said during an interview with BBC TV having confessed he wanted to lose some pounds in the next year.

"You can't eat cheese if you're a vegan. It's just a crime against ... cheese lovers," he added.

(This story was refiled to correct quote in paragraph 3 to replace "levels" with "lovers")

(Reporting by Elizabeth Howcroft; editing by Michael Holden and Guy Faulconbridge)

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