A number of Greater Manchester's nine Conservative MPs appear to be silent on the alleged Christmas party at 10 Downing Street during lockdown restrictions last year.
Leaked footage from No 10’s £2.6 million press briefing room emerged on Monday night which showed former press secretary Allegra Stratton laughing as she appeared to rehearse answers to questions over a 'fictional' 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 was a staff party where games were played, food and drinks were served, and revelries went on past midnight.
During the rehearsal, filmed as part of a subsequently-abandoned plan for Ms Stratton to lead televised press briefings, one aide is heard saying: “It wasn’t a party, it was cheese and wine.”
READ MORE: PMQS LIVE as Boris Johnson faces grilling over No 10 Christmas party following video leak
Downing Street has been insisting that no party had taken place and the rules had been followed - but ministers are yet to explain how the alleged bash complied with the rules in place at the time.
The Prime Minister faced calls to 'come clean' during Prime Ministers Questions this morning, December 8, at which point he apologised for the impression that has been given that staff at No 10 have taken this less than seriously.
'I am sickened myself', he said, adding 'I have been repeatedly assured that the rules were not broken' - announcing that the Cabinet Secretary has been asked to launch an internal investigation to find out exactly what happened.
The Metropolitan Police also confirmed officers are reviewing the leaked video in relation to 'alleged breaches' of coronavirus regulations.
Meanwhile, Greater Manchester's Conservative MPs have been relatively quiet on the controversy as their leader was quizzed in the Commons.
Only four out of nine Tory MPs have responded to the Manchester Evening News' requests for a direct comment.
Those who have not yet come forward include:
- Christian Wakeford - Bury South
- James Grundy - Leigh
- Sir Graham Brady - Altrincham and Sale West
- Mary Robinson - Cheadle
- Chris Clarkson - Heywood and Middleton
James Daly, William Wragg, Chris Green and Mark Logan - who represent Bury North, Hazel Grove, Bolton West and Bolton North East, respectively - have issued comments on the scandal.
'Deeply worrying that the PM has not yet found out whether a huge house party happened in house'
Bolton West's Chris Green has slammed the Prime Minister for his approach to the alleged party.
“Many people have sacrificed so much over the last 20 months because they have followed the advice given by the PM," he told the Manchester Evening News.
"It is deeply worrying that the PM has not yet found out whether a huge house party happened in his house.
"I would find it repugnant if Covid lockdown measures were introduced for political ends.”
'Diversionary tactic'
Hazel Grove's Conservative MP today said that implementing Plan B Covid restrictions would be a 'diversionary tactic' amid the Downing Street party scandal.
William Wragg raised the issue during today's Prime Minister’s Questions, in which Boris Johnson was grilled on the alleged party held on No. 10 during Tier 3 restrictions in December last year.
He said that introducing the stricter Winter plan today would be a way to distract the public from the alleged gathering.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Wragg said: "There are media reports of a Cabinet meeting and press conference this afternoon to initiate Covid Winter Plan B without reference to this House.
"Covid passes will not increase uptake of the vaccine, but will create a segregated society.
"Is the Prime Minister aware that very few will be convinced by this diversionary tactic?"
Mr Johnson responded: "No decisions will be taken without consulting the Cabinet."
Pressure from the public
Along with Ant and Dec speaking out about the party on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! Gary Neville is among the public figures demanding answers of the government.
The football pundit penned a letter to Bolton North East MP Mark Logan, asking 'why the residents of Bolton had to lockdown last Christmas while the Prime Minister was partying with his colleagues and friends'.
The letter went on to request the guest list and for Mr Logan to state his position on the matter, adding that 'we need MPs to stand up and show the courage to do the right thing and speak out against wrongdoing and admitting when it has taken place'.
“As a new MP, the first time I attended No.10 was in January 2020, and the next time I attended No.10 was recently in November 2021,” said Mr Logan, in a letter of response.
"On the point about guest lists, unfortunately I am not privy to this sort of information managed by No.10. Though, I would suggest getting in contact with Downing Street to see what advice they could provide.”
A further statement from the MP’s office told the Manchester Evening News that he would be ‘genuinely keen to speak with Gary’.
His public response went on to invite Mr Neville to co-host a Christmas dinner ‘for a small group of disadvantaged residents here in Bolton’.
It added: “Please let me know if this is of interest as I would be delighted to help coordinate a special moment for our local residents at what can be a magical time of year.”
'The police should investigate'
Bury North's MP, James Daly, says constituents across the country have 'quite rightly been extremely concerned' by the revelations suggesting there was a party at No 10 during lockdown.
He told the Manchester Evening News: "I don't know what happened, I wasn't there - but if there was a party that broke the rules when my constituents were doing their utmost to keep to the restrictions in place, the police should investigate, which I think they are doing.
"When it's established, then appropriate action will be taken. Depending on the outcome of the police investigation, people will have serious questions to answer.
"If I stand in the next election, I hope people will look at the money and investment I have brought into Bury. The Conservative Party stands on a record of the positive things it has delivered, if these things [the alleged Downing Street party] are more important, then we will lose.
"People vote for a lot of different reasons, these events may well have an impact. To an extent, this is detracting from what we are doing, because there's a lot of everyday issues still coming into my inbox that I'm working on to help people in Bury.
"People have quite rightly been extremely concerned. When people question the character of a public office, it does have the potential to impact voting going forward. I hope the work we do in our local constituencies has more impact, but it may well be overshadowed."
Plan B announcement
According to reports in the Financial Times, Boris Johnson could announce the new measures Plan B as soon as today.
He will reportedly hold a press conference this afternoon to discuss how the government will tackle the Omicron variant.
But today there were calls for him resign, after a new recording, which was leaked to ITV News, caught No. 10 staff joking about the alleged bash last year.
It showed a group of staff members laughing and making references to 'cheese and wine' at the 'business meeting'.
SNP Westminster Leader Ian Blackford said 'authoritative reports' now suggested that three parties had taken place in December, when Tier 3 restrictions were in place.
Mr Blackford said: “People throughout these islands have been watching this debate today, people feel revulsion at the stories that have emerged, in particular the video last night.
“What is worse Prime Minister, what is worse Mr Speaker, is that there are now authoritative reports of not just one, not just two, but three different Downing Street parties during lockdown last Christmas, including one in the Prime Minister’s flat?
“What do we have to do on this side of the House to make sure the Prime Minister takes responsibilities for his breach of trust, for the breach of Covid regulations, and he does the right thing on behalf of all the people on these islands, and he resigns right now?”
Boris Johnson told MPs: “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.”
