Boris Johnson has said he “apologises unreservedly” for a video showing Downing Street officials joking about a staff party that took place amid the peak of lockdown last December, while still insisting that, as far as he was aware, no party took place.
“I can understand how infuriating it would be to think that the people who have been setting the rules have not been following the rules,” the prime minister said, adding: “I was also furious to see that clip.”
He told the Commons at the start of prime minister’s questions on Wednesday: “I apologise unreservedly for the offence that it has caused up and down the country, and apologise for the impression that it gives.”
Johnson said that while he had been “repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party and no Covid rules were broken”, he had instructed Simon Case, the cabinet secretary, to look into the matter, and that disciplinary action would be taken against any staff found to have breached rules.
More details soon …
Discussion about this post