PM Boris Johnson
(Picture: PA Wire)The Labour Party is calling for an investigation into Boris Johnson’s conduct after he launched a “political attack” on Sadiq Khan during a coronavirus press conference
Deputy leader Angela Rayner has accused the Prime Minister of breaching the ministerial code during a briefing in Downing Street’s new £2.6million media room on Monday.
It comes after the Prime Minister blamed the “current Labour mayor” of “blowing” TfL’s finances on an irresponsible fares policy rather than the drop in travel caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Mr Khan hit back at Mr Johnson’s “lies”.
Labour says ministers are banned from using Government resources for party political campaigning during an election period.
The BBC, which is bound by strict impartiality rules, has also reportedly held internal talks over the PM using the briefings to attack Labour politicians - particularly during the purdah period before May’s local elections.
Now Ms Rayner has written to the Cabinet Secretary calling for an investigation and requested that the Prime Minister issue a public apology.
Labour quotes the ministerial code which states: “Official facilities and resources may not be used for the dissemination of party political material.”
The Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Allegra Stratton was asked about it yesterday and said the PM was simply answering a direct question from a journalist about London.
