Boris Johnson has issued an unreserved apology for a Downing Street lockdown party and promised that those involved would face the sack.
At the start of Prime Minister’s Questions the cornered Tory leader said he was also “furious” about revelations of a staff party in Downing Street last year and understood public anger.
A humbled Prime Minister said: “I understand public anxiety and I understand public indignation.”
But he still maintained that he had no previous knowledge of the party and had asked the country’s top civil servant to investigate.
To a rowdy Commons reception, he said: “I have been repeatedly assured, since these allegations emerged, that there was no party and no COVID rules were broken and that is what I have been repeatedly assured. I’ve asked the Cabinet Secretary to establish all the facts to report back as soon as possible.”
Leaked footage from Downing Street’s £2.6 million press briefing room emerged on Tuesday night which showed former press secretary Allegra Stratton laughing as she appeared to rehearse answers to questions over a lockdown-busting Christmas party.
The video, which is reported to be from December 22 last year, refers to a party on “Friday” – which would have been December 18, the same day The Daily Mirror reported there had been a staff party where games were played, food and drinks were served, and revelries went on past midnight.
No 10 initially did not say the reports were inaccurate but said all rules had been followed, before later denying any party had taken place.
Labour’s Keir Starmer said the PM had been caught red-handed by denying that the party had taken place.
Starmer said Johnson is “taking the public for fools”.
He added: “Surely he is not pretending that the first he knew about this was last night?”
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here .
