Johnson had until Wednesday avoided answering whether he and his wife,Carrie,attended a party that was organised by Martin Reynolds,his principal private secretary on May 20,2020.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the Commons he attended a party in his garden during lockdown.PA
Reynolds had sent around 100 prime ministerial staff an email invite to the BYO booze party in the Prime Minister’s garden,saying it was an opportunity to make the most of the rare warm weather.
At the time,the rules forbade all social gatherings and only allowed two people to meet outdoors socially distanced.
Johnson told Prime Ministers Questions that he attended the gathering for 25 minutes to thank staff,but thought it was a “work event.”
“I want to apologise,” he said. “I have learned enough to know that there were things we simply did not get right and I must take responsibility,” he said,adding that he did not want to pre-empt the outcome of an internal inquiry into revelations of Downing Street’s parties held during lockdowns.
The House of Commons was packed to hear the Prime Minister respond to allegations of breaking lockdown rules.PA
“Number 10 is a big department with the garden as an extension of the office,which has been in constant use because of the role of fresh air in stopping the virus.
“And when I went into that garden just after six[o’clock] on the 20th of May,2020 to thank groups of staff before going into my office 25 minutes later to continue working,l believed implicitly that this was a work event.
“With hindsight,I should have sent everyone back inside ... and I should have recognised that even if it could be said technically to fall within the guidance,there would be millions of people who would simply not see it that way.”
Opposition Leader Keir Starmer said the Prime Minister’s excuse was “so ridiculous” that it was “actually offensive” and called Johnson a man “with no shame.”
UK Labour leader Kier Starmer slams British Prime Minister Boris Johnson for attending a party during the lockdown.
“Well that apology was pretty worthless,wasn’t it?” Starmer said. “Can’t the Prime Minister see that the British public thinks he’s lying through his teeth?
“The party’s over,Prime Minister;the only question is will the British public kick him out,will his party kick him out or will he do the decent thing and resign?”
It is the first time Starmer has called on the Prime Minister to resign and Johnson did not rule out the prospect.
The Prime Minister said the Opposition would have the opportunity to question him again after the internal inquiry,headed by civil servant Sue Gray,was complete “very soon.”
He said he would “respond as appropriate” to that inquiry,prompting some MPs to privately speculate that Johnson could quit if the report found he was at fault.
The calls for Johnson to quit have come not just from opposition parties,but also from among his own ranks,with three MPs – including the leader of the Scottish Tories Douglas Ross – saying the Prime Minister’s his position was “no longer tenable.”
“I don’t think he can continue as leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister,asking people to follow the rules and guidance of his government,when I don’t believe he did,” said Ross.
Backbencher William Wragg agreed. “Frankly[we’re] worn out of defending what is invariably indefensible and that for their sakes at least the Prime Minister should see that and do the right thing,” he told the BBC.
“As colleagues are saying to one another and off the record,I sadly think that the Prime Minister’s position is untenable and I don’t believe it should be left to the findings of a civil servant to determine the future of the prime minister and indeed who governs this country.
“I think it is for the Conservative Party,if not the Prime Minister,in fact,to make that decision.”
Cabinet ministers made a public show of support for the Prime Minister afterwards,and while there is no immediate prospect of a leadership challenge,the series of leaks about Downing Street parties held during lockdown has put Johnson under the greatest pressure of his premiership just two years after his landslide election victory on the back of his pledge to “Get Brexit done”.
Nursing an 80-seat majority,Conservative MPs have always believed that Johnson would take them to the next election,but this is now no longer a given.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak did not attend Prime Minister’s Questions,nor did any government ministers appear for morning media rounds as is custom.
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