Anas Sarwar brands PM a ‘liar’ over Downing Street party

Anas Sarwar was labelled the Prime Minister “corrupt” and “a liar” after claiming there was no party and no Covid rules were broken by Downing Street staff last year.

In a statement at the start of PMQs, Boris Johnson told MPs: “I have been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party, and that no Covid rules were broken.”

It followed a leaked video in which his former press secretary Allegra Stratton – who has since resigned – joked with other staff about a Christmas party in December 2020.

Sarwar said: “I watched Boris Johnson at Prime Minister’s Questions today, and to be frank he is a liar, he is corrupt and he is a joke – but the joke isn’t funny anymore.”

He added: “At this time of national crisis, we need serious leadership. This is an out-of-touch, corrupt, lying government.

“That’s why we need to unite across the country – to not just oppose the Tories, but to replace them.”

The SNP has called for Johnson’s resignation over the revelations, while Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross said the PM should go if he misled parliament over the matter.

Simon Case, head of the civil service, has been instructed to investigate the claims, with any staff found to have breached the rules to face disciplinary action.

Sir Keir Starmer suggested it was not credible that the first the PM knew of the party was after the leaked video on Tuesday. He said: “The Prime Minister has been caught red-handed. Why doesn’t he end the investigation right now by just admitting it?”

But Johnson said events would be “properly investigated”.