Boris Johnson is facing further calls to resign after it emerged his staff held two leaving parties in No 10 on the eve of Prince Philip's funeral
The Telegraph reports around 30 people were drinking alcohol and dancing until the early hours
The next day, Queen Elizabeth sat alone at the funeral of her husband of 73 years, in line with social distancing rules
Downing Street has apologised to Buckingham Palace, calling the parties "deeply regrettable"
James Slack, an ex-No 10 communications chief for whom one of the parties was held, has apologised for the "anger and hurt" caused
Johnson was not at either gathering, but it comes after it emerged several other parties were held at No 10 when Covid restrictions limited social mixing
Opponents are calling for the PM to step down and a small but growing number of Conservatives are publicly echoing this
Earlier we heard from security minister Damian Hinds, who said he was "shocked" to read reports of two leaving parties being held at No 10 on the eve of Prince Philip's funeral.
You can watch a clip from his interview on BBC Breakfast below.
Image source, PA MediaAs we mentioned earlier, there has been an apology for one of the parties from the prime minister’s former director of communications.
Who is James Slack? Journalist James Slack was one of the PM's spokesmen before he became his director of communications after the departure of Lee Cain, who left Downing Street in December 2020.
Slack left No 10 last year to become deputy editor-in-chief at The Sun.
What happened? An event was held to mark Slack’s departure from No 10 last year, the night before the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral on April 16 2021.
What has he now said? "I wish to apologise unreservedly for the anger and hurt caused. This event should not have happened at the time that it did. I am deeply sorry, and take full responsibility."
Now appearing on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, minister Damian Hinds is asked if it is found that rules were broken, whether action can be taken against civil servants without action against the prime minister.
"We have to see where the facts take things. It’s always been clear that where there’s evidence of wrongdoing, people can be held to account and action can be taken against individuals if that’s warranted," he says.
Boris Johnson was not at the alleged events in April 2021 but he has admitted attending a garden drinks party at Downing Street on 20 May 2020.
Asked if he believes the prime minister's explanation that he thought it was a work event, Hinds says Johnson's apology was "heartfelt" and he does believe him.
Image source, PA MediaOnly 30 people attended Prince Philip's funeral service because of Covid restrictions
On 16 April 2021, when Downing Street staff have been accused of holding two leaving parties, England was under step two restrictions , externaland people were banned from socialising with other households indoors.
Indoor gatherings and gatherings of more than six people outdoors were unlawful, unless "reasonably necessary for work".
There were also fixed penalty notices of up to £10,000 for individuals organising unlawful gatherings of more than 30 people.
At that time, the country was in a period of national mourning, following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh.
Funerals could only take place with up to 30 mourners - and that is how many people were inside St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle as Prince Philip was laid to rest.
Image source, UK Parliament/Jessica TaylorA councillor from the Sutton Coldfield Conservatives association, which has voted unanimously to withdraw its support from Boris Johnson, says "the culture starts at the top".
Simon Ward tells BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We were asking people all over our country to make massive sacrifices... over the last two years.
"I think we have the right to expect everybody in government and in those positions of leadership to follow those same rules and guidelines as well."
The councillor, who represents the safe Tory seat in the West Midlands, says the move to withdraw support from the prime minister reflects "local views at the very grassroots levels" and is about "the standards of leadership we expect".
"This is about what the right thing is for politics, what the right thing is for our leaders, how this reflects on our country as well, and it's just massively disappointing and it reflects very, very poorly on us as a nation," he adds.
Last night, after the reports of the two new parties broke, backbencher Andrew Bridgen became the fifth Conservative MP to publicly say he had submitted a letter of no confidence in Boris Johnson.
He told BBC Newsnight he had submitted the letter with a "heavy heart", believing there was no sign the revelations about parties in Downing Street during lockdown would end soon.
Bridgen, who backed Johnson in the 2019 Conservative leadership contest, said this was "preventing the government from functioning as normal and that's an untenable position".
A minimum of 54 Conservative MPs must send letters to the 1922 committee of backbench MPs in order to trigger a leadership challenge.
We've got more from minister Damian Hinds, who's repeatedly asked whether rules were broken if a party took place, given that James Slack, for whom one of the leaving parties was held for, has apologised.
The security minister tells BBC Breakfast: "Yes, on the face of it, if you have a large number of people, coming to, being invited to a social event and socialising taking place.”
However, he adds that he does not know any more about the events than Slack's statement and a proper investigation should take place.
Asked if there is a "culture of rule-breaking" at Downing Street, Hinds says he does not believe this to be the case.
However, he adds: "Obviously if you're a rule-maker you can't be a rule-breaker."
Image source, ReutersMeanwhile, away from the UK, Australia has revoked tennis star Novak Djokovic's visa for a second time amid a row over his right to remain in the country unvaccinated.
The decision by Immigration Minister Alex Hawke means Djokovic now faces being deported.
In a statement the minister says he exercised his power “on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so".
The move also means Djokovic is likely to face a three-year ban on obtaining a new Australian visa.
He is still able to launch another legal challenge to remain in the country.
The men's tennis number one was scheduled to play in the Australian Open, which begins on Monday.
Minister Damian Hinds says he is "shocked" by reports of two leaving parties taking place at Downing Street on the eve of the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral in April 2021.
He tells BBC Breakfast it was a "particularly solemn time for our whole nation", as the Queen mourned the loss of her husband.
However, he says he cannot talk in any detail about what happened at the alleged events - one of which has been admitted by the staff member whose leaving party it was - because he does not know any more about them and was not there.
The security minister adds that an investigation by senior civil servant Sue Gray is ongoing and it is right to wait for the outcome of that.
Image source, PA MediaThe SNP’s Westminster leader says he was “staggered” to hear of the alleged parties at No 10 on the eve of the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral in April 2021.
Ian Blackford tells BBC Breakfast: “I think everyone can remember that picture of the Queen sitting alone at the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral.
“Just the crass and insensitivity of those around the prime minister, those in No 10, not having one but two parties the night before and all the talk of booze being brought in in a suitcase and all the rest of it.”
He says the “booze culture” at No 10 during lockdown was not acceptable when ordinary people were making so many sacrifices.
Although the prime minister was not at either gathering, Blackford says “he is the one that leads the government” and it was his staff who were partying so he repeats his call for Boris Johnson to resign.
The prime minister's former director of communications has apologised "unreservedly" for the "anger and hurt" caused by an event held to mark his departure from Downing Street last year.
James Slack, who is now deputy editor-in-chief of the Sun newspaper, says: "This event should not have happened at the time that it did. I am deeply sorry, and take full responsibility."
He says he cannot comment further as the matter has been referred to an investigation by senior civil servant Sue Gray.
Image source, ReutersAs we just mentioned, fresh allegations of lockdown parties have emerged, with Downing Street staff accused of holding two leaving events in No 10 on the eve of the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral.
The Telegraph reported, external the gatherings were made up of about 30 people drinking alcohol and dancing to music until the early hours of 17 April.
The paper says one of these parties took place in a basement before the two gatherings came together later on.
Restrictions at the time banned indoor mixing between different households.
No 10 said a leaving speech had been given but would not comment when asked if there had been drinking and dancing.
Johnson was not at either gathering as he was spending the weekend at his country estate, Chequers.
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