“Millions of people now think the Prime Minister was taking them for fools, that they were lied to. Labour leader Keir Starmer said Boris Johnson’s apology “raises more questions than answers” as he had been “caught red-handed”. Number 10 would not give a timetable for Mr Case’s investigation to conclude but Mr Johnson’s official spokesman said “we want it to be as soon as possible”. She said “it wouldn’t be right to comment further” while Mr Case was investigating. Mr Johnson’s intervention followed a week of official insistence that no party took place on December 18, 2020, when London was under Tier 3 restrictions – despite reports staff drank alcohol and exchanged secret Santa gifts.Īllegra Stratton laughs in the footage as she appears to rehearse answers to questions over a lockdown-busting Christmas party (PA)ĭowning Street’s official line has now shifted with the announcement of the Case inquiry, with the British prime minister’s press secretary declining to repeat the statement that “there was no party”. “But I repeat that I have been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party and that no Covid rules were broken, and that is what I have been repeatedly assured.” “I apologise unreservedly for the offence that it has caused up and down the country and I apologise for the impression that it gives. Mr Johnson said he had asked Cabinet Secretary Simon Case “to establish all the facts and to report back as soon as possible – and it goes without saying that if those rules were broken then there will be disciplinary action for all those involved”.Īt Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Johnson said: “I understand and share the anger up and down the country at seeing No 10 staff seeming to make light of lockdown measures, and I can understand how infuriating it must be to think that people who have been setting the rules have not been following the rules because I was also furious to see that clip. The British prime minister apologised “unreservedly” for the offence caused by the footage of his then-spokeswoman Allegra Stratton at a mock press conference.īut he insisted he had been repeatedly assured “there was no party and that no Covid rules were broken”. Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street to attend Prime Minister’s Questions (PA)īoris Johnson has ordered an investigation into claims Downing Street staff broke lockdown rules by holding a Christmas party last year and told MPs he was “furious” about footage apparently showing aides joking about it. Johnson apologises for offence caused by aides joking about Christmas party “To all of you who lost loved ones, who endured intolerable loneliness and who struggled with your businesses, I am truly sorry and this afternoon I am offering my resignation to the Prime Minister.” “I tried to do right by you all, to behave with civility and decency and up to the high standards you expect of Number 10.” She said she understood the “anger and frustration” people feel. Ms Stratton told reporters: “Working in government is an immense privilege. 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.” Quitting her role as the British prime minister’s spokeswoman for the Cop26 climate summit she said: “My remarks seemed to make light of the rules, rules that people were doing everything to obey.