No10 lockdown drinks 'turned into a party once the Prime Minister arrived'

16 April 2022, 23:21 | Updated: 17 April 2022, 06:44

Labour has called Boris Johnson's involvement in the partygate saga "indefensible" as fresh allegations emerged about the Prime Minister's conduct.

The Sunday Times said Mr Johnson is expected to deliver a statement when MPs return to the Commons on Tuesday, where he will not deny wrongdoing but will point towards the wider context, including the war in Ukraine.

But the newspaper also revealed fresh claims that Mr Johnson was not only present at a leaving do for his former press chief but that he led the celebrations.

It comes after Mr Johnson, his wife Carrie, and Chancellor Rishi Sunak were all issued with - and paid - fines for attending a birthday bash held for the Prime Minister in June 2020.

The Sunday Times reported the Prime Minister's official photographer had captured photographs of Mr Johnson holding a beer at the gathering, and Mr Sunak with a soft drink.

But Mr Johnson is understood to have been present at at least six of the 12 events being investigated by the Metropolitan Police for breaking Covid rules, and is braced for more fines potentially to come.

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'It could still be partygate that costs him his job.'

One of those included in Operation Hillman is a leaving do for the former director of communications at No 10, Lee Cain, on November 13 2020.

A source suggested to the Sunday Times this had started as the press office having drinks to finish off the week, but turned into a party once the Prime Minister arrived, poured drinks and made a speech.

The newspaper said a No 10 source did not deny the characterisation of the gathering, but denied Mr Johnson was the instigator.

The Sunday Mirror said No 10 had refused to answer questions about the birthday gathering submitted through a freedom of information request, because of national security reasons.

Downing Street declined to comment when approached by the PA news agency and has repeatedly said it would not comment until the police investigation concludes.

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Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner said: "While the British public was making huge sacrifices, Boris Johnson was breaking the law.

"If the latest reports are true, it would mean that not only did the Prime Minister attend parties, but he had a hand in instigating at least one of them. He has deliberately misled the British people at every turn.

"The Prime Minister has demeaned his office. The British people deserve better. While Labour has a plan for tackling the cost-of-living crisis, Tory MPs are too busy defending the indefensible actions of Boris Johnson."

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Adding to the scrutiny the Conservative party is facing, Labour also called for he findings of an investigation into Rishi Sunak by Boris Johnson's independent ministerial interests adviser to be made public.

The Chancellor referred himself for investigation by Lord Geidt last week after his wife Akshata Murty's non-domiciled tax status and the couple's holding of US green cards came to light.

Labour is demanding the Prime Minister not only release the findings when the investigation concludes, but to confirm the "remit, resourcing and timing of the investigation".

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Cabinet Secretary Simon Case and Lord Geidt, Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner asked why the Cabinet Office had said in a statement before the investigation that Lord Gedit was already satisfied with Mr Sunak's ministerial declarations.

She questioned whether the inquiry was prejudged, "which suggests that it is simply a whitewash with a predetermined conclusion".