An MP broke down in tears mid-question in the Commons while quizzing the Cabinet Minister over the lockdown-breaking Downing Street parties.
DUP member James Shannon was overcome with sadness when speaking about the death of his mother-in-law.
The queries were heard during an urgent question on 'Partygate' in the Commons today (January 11), requested by Labour's Deputy leader Angela Rayner.
Mr Shannon was unable to finish his question to Cabinet Minister Michael Ellis, who was in place for Boris Johnson.
In an emotional contribution in the Commons, the MP for Strangford said: “In Northern Ireland we reached the milestone of 3,000 deaths due to Covid just last week. Including my mother-in-law, who died alone.”
Mr Shannon struggled to continue with his question before sitting back down.
Mr Ellis said: “I’m very sorry for his loss. He’s asking me if the results of the investigation will be made public, and they will be."
It comes just hours after ITV News released screenshots of an e-mail that was allegedly sent to more than 100 Downing Street employees, inviting them to a 'bring your own booze' garden party on 20 May 2020.
At the time, the public were only legally allowed to meet outside with one other person, per lockdown rules.
Multiple reports, including public claims from ex-aide Dominic Cummings, suggested Mr Johnson and his wife Carrie personally attended the event.
But Mr Ellis said today the Prime Minister is 'going nowhere' and will not resign - as he described calls for him to stand down as 'entirely hypothetical.'
Labour MP Ben Bradshaw asked: "If the Prime Minister broke the law, he will resign, won't he?"
Mr Ellis said: "It is an entirely hypothetical position.
"The Prime Minister is going nowhere. He seeks to draw me into making a supposition about the result of any inquiry.
"But the Prime Minister retains the confidence of the people of this country and he did so two years ago with the biggest majority in decades."
Partygate isn't the only recent scandal Boris Johnson is caught up in; Tory Peer Lord Evans told the Commons earlier that stories on the PM's Number 11 flat refurb - and David Cameron's Greensill scandal - had 'cut through' with the public.
Since details of the No 10 parties have emerged, MPs and members of public alike have shared their own harrowing stories about loved ones who died alone due to the lockdown restrictions.
