By PM faces questions over ‘partygate’ photos
Boris Johnson is facing fresh questions after photos showing the prime minister drinking at an event during a Covid lockdown was published.
Images released by ITV News are alleged to show the prime minister at a leaving party on 13 November 2020.
The BBC reported that at least one person who attended the event was fined, but the PM was not.
The Metropolitan Police is facing calls to explain why Mr. Johnson did not receive a fine.
A government source told BBC News the photos may have been taken by the official No 10 photographer, suggesting Mr. Johnson was there in a work capacity.
The police investigated two events in Downing Street on 13 November.
Asked in Parliament by a Labour MP whether a party had taken place on that date, Mr. Johnson said “no”, adding that “I’m sure…all the rules were followed”.
A Government source has told the BBC that civil servant Sue Gray may hand her report on parties to Downing Street on Wednesday, followed by a statement in Parliament and a press conference by the prime minister.
Labour’s Jonathan Ashworth said it would be difficult for the PM to justify his statement to Parliament that no party had taken place, calling on Tory MPs to remove him from office.
Senior Conservative Tom Tugendhat was also critical telling the BBC: “Seriousness in government matters. It costs us all. And I’m afraid this just doesn’t look serious.”
Former justice secretary Robert Buckland told BBC Radio Wiltshire that: “If there’s a deliberate lie, I can’t see how anybody, including this prime minister, can continue.”
“There are things we say honestly and genuinely at the time that we believe to be true… now that’s one thing. Going and deliberately saying X is Y knowing that is the case is, of course, beyond the pale.”
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said that while he found the picture “difficult to look at”, referencing the PM’s ministerial red box “suggests he was probably on his way through”.
“I think he’s popped down there to raise a glass and say thank you to a long-term member of staff who is leaving,” he said, adding that the police would have “thoroughly investigated” the event.
He also said the prime minister was “mortified”.
A No 10 spokeswoman said the prime minister would address Parliament “in full” after senior civil servant Sue Gray published her report into the gatherings “in the coming days”.
