Phillip Schofield has blasted Boris Johnson’s and his government on This Morning following the brewing scandal regarding the leaked video documenting No 10’s Christmas party.
Slamming the smirking politicians and their staff, the TV show’s presenter begged the question are the British public “being taken for a bunch mugs?”, after the latest denials from the Tory Government.
His co-host Holly Willoughby dubbed the reported festive shindig a year ago ‘tone-deaf’ as it played it against the backdrop of a public lockdown with tight restrictions.
Senior Downing Street staff appeared to crack jokes about a rule-breaking Christmas party at No 10 just four days after it was alleged to have taken place, the bombshell leaked recording reveals.
Officials can be heard laughing about “cheese and wine” as Johnson’s former spokeswoman Allegra Stratton cracked jokes about a “business meeting” in which there was “definitely no social distancing.”
One of This Morning’s contributions from a member of the public accused the government of “lying” to the nation, recalling what many people were going through at the time of the reported celebrations.
This prompted Schofield to suggest people would likely not listen to any restrictions this year as a result, reported The Mirror.
He read out the restrictions regarding social gatherings at the time the party is said to have taken place, recalling Christmas lunches and parties were banned.
Phil then said: “You look at this and think, are you seriously taking us for a bunch of mugs?”
He added: “Let us put this another way, when we hear reports that there may be restrictions coming in, possibly slightly wider restrictions at Christmas, does the Prime Minister and his party and his government honestly assume any of us are going to take any notice?”
His co-presenter Holly also hit out over the ongoing story, recalling what the public were going through during the second and third waves last year and beyond.
Saying it was “clearly not going away”, she told ITV’s Robert Peston: “You think about what was going on at that time, and what the rest of the country were going through.
“The death rates were high, the infection rates were high, people were not seeing their loved ones, Christmas being cancelled. I mean it was so tone-deaf with what the rest of the country was going through.”
It comes amid a denial of there being any Christmas party at No 10, after The Mirror revealed bombshell allegations that revellers at an unofficial Christmas bash on December 18 allegedly enjoyed food, drinks and games which went on well past midnight.
Fresh allegations in the Times also revealed that officials organised a ‘secret Santa’ and sent out invites, suggesting the event was planned.
The Prime Minister said he had been assured “guidance was followed”, amid increasing calls for him to resign.
