Anger over leaked video of No 10 staff joking about Christmas party

Boris Johnson has been urged to resign after a video of Downing Street staffers joking about holding a Christmas party emerged.

The video, obtained by ITV News, showed the PM’s then press secretary Allegra Stratton being asked to respond to reports of the party as they rehearsed for a press conference last year.

In the exchange, Stratton jokes that she “went home” before asking colleagues: “What’s the answer?”

She goes on: “This fictional party was a business meeting and it was not socially distanced.”

Downing Street has continued to insist no party took place.

After news of the video broke on Tuesday evening, SNP Westminister leader Ian Blackford said the Prime Minister must “take responsibility and go”.

Speaking on the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland on Wednesday, he said: “This is a Prime Minister  that lies, that seeks to deceive the public from his actions.

“We’re just going into what it going to be a very challenging few weeks with the Omicron variant, and a Prime Minister that’s behaved the way that he has simply doesn’t deserved the trust of the public.

“If he has any self-respect, if he has any dignity, he would do the right thing and the right thing is for him to resign.”

Reports suggest Johnson did not attend any Christmas party last year but he has repeatedly said no such event took place.

A number of Tory MPs are reportedly very angry about both the party and how the government has handled it over the last week.

Scotland’s constitution secretary Angus Robertson also called for his resignation this morning.

He added: “The Metropolitan Police could also review the Downing Street guard house records and CCTV footage of who came and left No 10 at the time of the party.”

The Prime Minister will face opposition leaders at PMQs this afternoon in what will be an uncomfortable and tough session.

Labour leader Keir Starmer critised the government last night, tweeting: “People across the country followed the rules, even when that meant being separated from loved ones. They had a right to expect the government was doing the same.

“To lie and to laugh about those lies is shameful. We have a Prime Minister who’s socially distanced from the truth.”