Jim Shannon: DUP MP in tears as he questions No 10 drinks party

A DUP MP has broken down in tears in Parliament while questioning the government about fresh revelations that it broke lockdown rules.

Jim Shannon, MP for Strangford, cried as he said his mother-in-law had died alone with Covid during the pandemic.

He said the government must ensure "full and complete disclosure".

About 100 people were invited to the "bring-your-own-booze" event in Downing Street's garden in the first lockdown in May 2020, the BBC understands.

Government minister Michael Ellis said he was "very sorry" for Mr Shannon's loss and said the investigation's findings would be made public.

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said Prime Minister Boris Johnson retained his confidence, despite the fresh revelations.

"I believe we've got the right person as prime minister, he's the right man for the job," he added.

He said it would not be right to comment further until an investigation is completed.

Sue Gray - the former permanent secretary at Stormont's Department of Finance - is leading the investigation into breaches of the rules by the government.

"We couldn't even come together as a family and hug each other"

Roddy McIvor's mother Ann, from Moneymore in County Londonderry, died with Covid-19 in Antrim Area Hospital on the day of the alleged garden party.

She was 80 years old.

Unable to visit her, Mr McIvor instead had to speak to her on a video call on an iPad.

"Mummy had ventilation stuff on her, the nurse removed it at times and I could see her lips moving. she was obviously trying to talk to me," he told BBC News NI.

"I was saying things back to her telling her I loved her.

"I don't know if she heard me and I don't really know what she was trying to say either at the time because obviously it was on an iPad and the picture wasn't great.

"Basically that was it, after about five minutes we just hung up and that was the end of the call and that was the last time I saw my mother, she passed away that evening.

"We couldn't even come together as a family and hug each other and talk to each other and comfort each other.

Ann McIvor (centre) with family including daughter Marie and son Roddy (right)

"I'll never get it back again, that's one thing you'll never get it back again, it's gone now

"Your mother looks after you for 80 years, you feel like you should be with her on that particular day and be comforting her in her final moments.

"The whole thing doesn't add up, they [the UK government] have no credibility at all.

"My mum was a very decent, quiet woman and she had a lot of integrity and those people have no integrity at all.

"They were making us suffer, basically that's what they were doing, making us suffer, making us give up those final moments of family time with a loved one and they were just continuing on what looked to be normal activity."

His sister Marie McArdle added: "As we did what we were told, stayed away from our mother - and family was everything to mummy, her whole life was about her family - and we weren't allowed to be there to support her, to hug her, to kiss her, to hold her hand, meanwhile the party was going on strong at Downing Street.

"I'm angry and I feel betrayed, I feel let down.

"Each day there's something else and you just feel you're getting slapped across the face every time and just no respect whatsoever for my mother's life and all the others."

'Anger and frustration'

Mr Lewis said Boris Johnson had done "phenomenal work" during the pandemic, and other areas but said Ms Gray needed "freedom" to complete her investigation thoroughly.

He added that he "totally understood the anger and frustration" people felt across the UK when they were following restrictions, and then seeing the reports of rules being broken.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood commended Mr Shannon.

"Well done, Jim for struggling through that question," the SDLP leader tweeted.

In a statement, he called on the prime minister to resign.

He said Mr Johnson "has lost any authority or credibility he had".

Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Doug Beattie said his thoughts were with Mr Shannon and that the prime minister should step down "if, or once, this is proven".

Alliance Party deputy leader Stephen Farry said resigning would be the "one honourable thing" Mr Johnson could do.

What were the rules at the time of the event?

UK government guidance on the day of the alleged party was that people in England could meet one person outside of their household in an outdoor, public place, provided they stayed 2m apart.

As well as guidelines, there were also a number of legal restrictions in place in May 2020.

People in England could not leave their homes - or be outside the place they live - without a reasonable excuse, which included work (where you couldn't work from home), exercise and getting things like food and medicine.

• What rules would the Downing Street party have broken?

For people who broke these rules, the police in England could fine them £100 for the first offence which could then double for each further offence up to a maximum of £3,200.

On 20 May 2020 coronavirus restrictions in Northern Ireland meant outdoor gatherings were restricted to six people from different households.

Numbers at weddings and funerals were heavily limited as well.