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Johnson allegedly dismissed concerns No10 BYOB party was a breach of lockdown rules

BORIS JOHNSON came under fire again today after he was allegedly warned by staff that the “bring your own booze” party was a breach of lockdown rules.

The Prime Minister is alleged to have dismissed their concerns and attended the party on May 20 2020 himself.

On December 8 2021 Mr Johnson told the Commons that no rules had been broken.

It was not until January 12 2022 that he was forced to apologise to the House — even though he claimed he believed it to be a work event.

Labour has called on Mr Johnson to come clean about the latest revelations.

“There is a clear pattern of lying and dodging the question from the prime minister,” said Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner.

Calling on Mr Johnson to resign, she said the prime minister “has failed to show leadership and it’s the British public who have suffered.”

Earlier today Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer also continued to call for the resignation of the prime minister.

Speaking on LBC Radio, Sir Keir said that it was “extremely unlikely” that Sue Gray, the senior civil servant overseeing the investigation, will be able to say whether or not the events amounted to a breach of the rules. 

Sir Keir said Mr Johnson was “too weak to lead” and “has lost all authority.”

But Sir Keir refused to apologise over images of him drinking alcohol with staff during the spring lockdown.

The Labour leader defended photographs taken in the lead-up to the May 2021 elections in an office in Hartlepool.

He said that he was working with staff on the Hartlepool by-election campaign in April 2021 and had stopped to eat with party workers.

“The restrictions allowed people to work when they needed to — we were running an election campaign, we were in a constituency office,” he said.

Tory MPs have spent the weekend taking the temperature of their constituents. 

Tory MP Andrew Bowie told BBC Radio 4 today that there was “a lot of ill-feeling out there and discomfort among his colleagues.”

Tories are reported to be putting in place “Operation Save Big Dog” to protect Mr Johnson’s job. 

This is said to include an overhaul of his top team following continued criticisms of Downing Street culture.

According to reports Ms Gray is preparing to publish her findings as soon as this week.

 

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