PMQs: Boris Johnson sorry for offence caused by aides joking about lockdown party

Boris Johnson has apologised for a video showing Downing Street staff joking about a lockdown Christmas party in No 10, amid mounting public fury.

The PM said he shared people's anger and had ordered an inquiry into whether rules had been broken.

But Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he was taking people for fools and the PM should just admit what had happened.

MPs lined up to criticise Mr Johnson at Prime Minister's Questions, with one Labour MP asking how he slept at night.

Replying to Rosena Allin Khan, who also works as a doctor in a London hospital, Mr Johnson said he took "full responsibility for everything the government has done".

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But in his apology, the PM suggested he had been misled about the Christmas party on 18 December last year.

He said he had been "repeatedly assured that there was no party and that no Covid rules were broken".

He apologised "unreservedly" for the offence caused by the video clip, claiming that he was "furious" about it.

Mr Johnson's former press chief Allegra Stratton - who was filmed joking with colleagues about the party in a video leaked to ITV - resigned as a government adviser three hours after the PM's apology.

In a tearful statement, she said: "My remarks seemed to make light of the rules, rules that people were doing everything to obey.

"That was never my intention. I will regret those remarks for the rest of my days and I offer my profound apologies to all of you at home for them."

In response to questioning from Sir Keir, the PM agreed that any evidence uncovered about parties in Downing Street would be handed over to police.

Sir Keir questioned Mr Johnson's "moral authority" to lead the country during the pandemic, contrasting his actions with those of the Queen.

"Her Majesty the Queen sat alone when she marked the passing of the man she'd been married to for 73 years. Leadership, sacrifice - that's what gives leaders the moral authority to lead," said the Labour leader.

"Does the prime minister think he has the moral authority to lead and to ask the British people to stick to the rules?"

Resignation call

Mr Johnson claimed the Labour Party and Sir Keir "have played politics throughout this pandemic".

He accused Sir Keir of trying to "muddy the waters, to confuse the public and to cause needless confusion about the guidance".

Sir Keir replied: "That's so desperate and even his own side can see it."

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said that if the prime minister did not resign, "he must be removed".

"People have sacrificed at times to the point of breaking, while the UK government has laughed in their faces. It is clear that this prime minister has lost the support of the public and now even of his own benches," he told MPs.

Conservative MPs also fear the government's credibility has been damaged, with some warning it could harm Mr Johnson's ability to impose further coronavirus lockdowns.

And Tory MP William Wragg accused Mr Johnson of planning to "initiate Covid Winter Plan B" later on Wednesday without a statement to MPs, adding "very few will be convinced by this diversionary tactic".

Mr Johnson replied: "No decisions will be taken without consulting the Cabinet."

One Conservative Party member called into BBC Radio 5 Live to say she had decided to resign after the PM's apology, accusing him of telling "barefaced lies".

Melanie, who did not give her full name, said: "I fully supported him during Covid.

"I was one of the people who didn't get to see my mum last Christmas and that's hard. And then the thought that they were having a party?

"I don't care Boris, step away, you go away and sort it out and let somebody else be a leader. We need a leader."

Downing Street has spent the past week denying that a party had taken place at all on 18 December.

But that line fell apart when the video emerged showing No 10 staff joking about the party four days after it had taken place.

At the time, the government's coronavirus guidance specifically stated that people should not have Christmas parties - and gatherings in London of two or more people indoors were banned unless they were "reasonably necessary" for work.

Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, the top civil servant at Downing Street, is to investigate whether Covid rules were broken at the staff party, with the PM promising disciplinary action against offenders.

Christmas quiz

Several sources have, meanwhile, told the BBC that a Christmas quiz was also organised for Downing Street staff in December 2020.

One source said emails were sent out to everyone who worked in No10 inviting them to the quiz and to form teams ahead of time.

They added that some people did not seem to realise "how ridiculous" it was at the time and that people came into the office that day wearing Christmas jumpers for it.

A different source said while some people joined the quiz via Zoom, others were there in person and sat in groups of six.

Multiple sources have told the BBC the quiz took place in a room used by No 10 in the Cabinet Office.

On Wednesday, Downing Street insisted the quiz was "virtual."

And the Mirror has reported that in December 2020, then Education Secretary Gavin Williamson held a party for staff.

A spokeswoman for the education department said a "gathering" was held for those who were already in the office and couldn't work from home.

"Drinks and snacks were brought by those attending and no outside guests or supporting staff were invited or present. While this was work-related, looking back we accept it would have been better not to have gathered in this way at that particular time."