The Prime Minister was warned by staff that the 20th May 2020
party was a breach of the rules.
He not only dismissed their concerns, but attended the party
himself.
Mr Johnson then told the House of Commons on 8th December that no
rules had been broken.
It took almost a month for him to admit he attended the party and
apologise for how that looked. He maintains the event
“technically” fell within the guidance.
The Prime Minister urgently needs to make a public statement and
come clean about what he knew and when.
, Labour’s Deputy Leader
and Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said:
"There is a clear pattern of lying and dodging the question from
the Prime Minister.
“Boris Johnson was warned that the party on May 20th 2020 was
breaking the rules and yet he not only dismissed those concerns,
but attended himself.
"Instead of hiding behind internal inquiries or technicalities we
need the Prime Minister to tell the truth pure and simple.
“Boris Johnson has failed to show leadership and it's the British
public who have suffered. He must resign."
Ends
Notes to editors:
Five questions the Prime Minister must answer:
-
Does the Prime Minister deny misleading the House of Commons
when he said “I have been repeatedly assured since these
allegations emerged that there was no party”?
Hansard, 8 December 2021
-
Is the Prime Minister categorically denying that at any stage
he was told in advance of any gathering, or that he dismissed
warnings against allowing such an event?
-
On what grounds does the Prime Minister think that the 20th
May 2020 event at Downing Street followed guidance at the
time? Is he seriously still claiming he believed that an
event to which 100 people were invited, described as ‘drinks’
to ‘make the most of this lovely weather … Bring your
own booze’, was a work meeting not a social gathering? Will
any legal advice the Government has received on the matter be
published?
-
Will the Prime Minister investigate who has said that he was
warned about the parties in advance?
-
Given that Ministerial conduct is excluded from the Terms of
Reference of the internal fact-finding exercise that he
commissioned from , is he planning to act as his
own judge and jury?
