Boris Johnson has categorically denied anyone warned him attending a ‘bring your own booze’ party in No 10 was a bad idea and broke Covid lockdown rules.
Speaking for the first time since he admitted to attending the Downing Street gathering during PMQs last week, the Prime Minister repeated his apology to the public and said he had no prior knowledge the gathering on 20 May 2020 was going to take place.
“I want to begin by repeating my apologies to everybody for any misjudgement that I made, that we may have made in Number 10 and beyond whether in Downing Street or throughout the pandemic,” he told reporters during a visit to a hospital in north London.
The PM also gave an emotional apology to the Queen over allegations two parties were held in Downing Street on the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral.
Mr Johnson said he understands how “infuriating” it must be for people “up and down the country in view of the huge sacrifices that people have made”.
He also denied lying to Parliament over allegations of rule-breaking parties in Downing Street.
The Prime Minister said: “I want to just say to you on that point. Nobody told me that what we were doing was, as you say, against the rules, that the event in question was something that wasn’t a work event.
“As I said in the House of Commons, when I went out into that garden I thought that I was attending a work event.
“I think its very important that we see what Sue Gray, see what the inquiry has to say.”
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It comes after Mr Johnson’s former aide Dominic Cummings claimed he warned the Prime Minister not to go ahead with the drinks event in May 2020.
The former special adviser said Mr Johnson was told about the event and gave his approval for it to go ahead.
Writing in his blog, Mr Cummings said the PM simply “waved aside” concerns about the gathering.
He claimed Mr Johnson “lied to Parliament about parties” and knew he was attending a “drinks party” – not a work event as the PM has insisted.
Mr Johnson repeated this assertion today, and said: “When I went out into that garden I thought I was attending a work event.”
This story is being updated
https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/boris-johnson-no-10-downing-street-party-denies-lying-parliament-breaking-covid-rules-1408149
