A top UK Government official has quit over the Christmas party row engulfing Boris Johnson's Tory Government.
Allegra Stratton, a former journalist, offered her “profound apologies” in an emotional statement after footage emerged of her joking about a Downing Street Christmas party.
Johnson ordered an investigation into claims Downing Street staff broke lockdown rules by holding a Christmas party last year and told MPs he was “furious” about footage apparently showing aides laughing about it.
The Prime Minister apologised “unreservedly” for the offence caused by the footage of his then-spokeswoman Stratton at a mock press conference.
In a tearful statement, she said she had become a "distraction" and admitted her remarks appeared to "make light" of the lockdown rules.
She said: "I will regret those remarks for the rest of my days."
She also offered her "profound apologies".
At Prime Minister’s Questions, Johnson said: “I understand and share the anger up and down the country at seeing No 10 staff seeming to make light of lockdown measures, and I can understand how infuriating it must be to think that people who have been setting the rules have not been following the rules because I was also furious to see that clip.
“I apologise unreservedly for the offence that it has caused up and down the country, and I apologise for the impression that it gives.
“But I repeat that I have been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party and that no Covid rules were broken, and that is what I have been repeatedly assured.”
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