PMQs RECAP: Boris Johnson issues apology as pressure mounts over Covid lockdown party
The Prime Minister will make his first public appearance since the leak on Monday of an email from his principal private secretary, Martin Reynolds, inviting Downing Street staff to the gathering in May 2020 to “make the most of the lovely weather”.
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PMQs LIVE: Boris Johnson to face scrutiny from MPs as pressure mounts over Downing Street party
The Prime Minister also faced calls to apologise and correct the record on previous statements he made about inflation.
At Prime Minister’s Questions, Labour MP Ruth Cadbury (Brentford and Isleworth) raised claims made by the Prime Minister in October last year that worries about inflation were “unfounded”.
She said: “He told the House he had said no such thing, but within minutes the inevitable happened and people were watching videos on social media saying exactly that.
“Would the Prime Minister take this opportunity to correct the record and apologise for misleading the House on this matter?”
Boris Johnson replied: “No, because I immediately said in my answer to the question that, of course, you had to be concerned about inflation at all times.
“What I said, I think on TV, was that some of the predictions then about inflation were not proved well-founded, that clearly inflation is a serious risk, it is going up, and what we need is a strategy to tackle it, and that is what we have.”
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey told the Commons: “After another shameful week for his Government, this has been a shameful attempt to apologise to this House today.
“So can the Prime Minister explain why the only person to resign so far for this scandal is Allegra Stratton, a woman, while he – the man who sanctioned and attended at least one party in 10 Downing Street – still sits in his place?
“Advisers advise and ministers decide. So will the Prime Minister, for the good of the country, accept that the party is over and decide to resign?”
Boris Johnson replied: “I respect the point he’s making but I must say I disagree.
“I would ask him to wait and see what the inquiry says, and I’ll be very happy to talk to him then.”
Boris Johnson’s former aide Dominic Cummings said the Prime Minister’s excuse that he thought the event was within the rules was “bulls***”.
Mr Cummings, now a prominent critic of the Prime Minister, said he had objected to the invitation sent by No 10’s principal private secretary Martin Reynolds because it was obviously a social event, not work.
On Twitter he said that the Prime Minister’s “technically within the rules” excuse was because the alternative was to admit that he had broken the rules and resign.
Mr Cummings said: “Whole point of why I & other official told MR – WTF YOU DOING HOLDING A PARTY – was cos the invite = obv totally SOCIAL NOT WORK (UNlike all the mtngs in garden).
“No way ‘technically within rules’.”
That was “bulls*** cos altern is admit he broke rules + resign”.
Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner tweeted: “The British public suffered unimaginable loneliness, hurt and grief. But they diligently followed the rules because it was the right thing to do.
“Boris Johnson attended a party and now he is treating them like fools by suggesting he doesn’t know what a party is.”
Labour MP Toby Perkins said Boris Johnson has “debased” the office of Prime Minister.
The Chesterfield MP said: “We all know the Prime Minister was sacked from two previous jobs for lying.
“So, can he explain to the House why he believes that the great office of prime minister can be held to a lower standard than those previous jobs that he was sacked from?”
Mr Johnson said: “Well, I welcome the point that the honourable gentleman makes in the partisan spirit with which I think it was intended.
“I don’t agree with him. But can I suggest to him respectfully that he waits until the inquiry is concluded, which I hope will be as soon as possible.”
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