Prime Minister apologises for Downing St staff video – but insists no party took place

The Prime Minister has apologised for the video of Downing Street staff joking about a Christmas party last year – but has continued to insist no such party took place.

At the start of Prime Minister’s Questions, Boris Johnson said he was “furious” about the leaked video.

He confirmed the cabinet secretary (head of the civil service) has been asked to investigate the matter but added he had been “repeatedly assured” there was no party and no rules were broken.

The video was published by ITV News on Tuesday evening, showing the PM’s former press secretary Allegra Stratton joking about a party that is alleged to have happened in December 2020, when London was in Tier 3 lockdown.

In the chamber this afternoon, Johnson said: “I understand and share the anger up and down the country at seeing Number 10 staff seeming to make light of lockdown measures.

“I can understand how infuriating it must be to think that the people who have been setting the rules have not been following the rules […] I was also furious to see that clip. I apologise unreservedly for the offence that it has caused.”

He added: “I have been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party, and that no Covid rules were broken. That is what I’ve been repeatedly assured.

“But I’ve asked the cabinet secretary to establish all the facts and to report back as soon as possible. It goes without saying that if those rules were broken, then there will be disciplinary action for all those involved.”

SNP Westminister leader Ian Blackford repeated his call for the Prime Minister to resign over the matter.

He said: “Downing Street willfully broke the rules and mocked the sacrifices we have all made, shattering the public’s trust. The Prime Minister is responsible for losing the trust of the people. He can no longer lead on the most pressing issue facing these islands.

“The Prime Minister has a duty, the only right and moral choice left to him, it is for his resignation. When can we expect it?”

Johnson accused opposition parties of playing politics, adding: “I am going to get on the with the job.”

Blackford urged Conservative MPs to move to remove the Prime Minister if he was not willing to resign.

Labour leader Keir Starmer stopped short of calling for resignation, but urged Johnson to admit that the party had taken place.

He said: “Surely the Prime Minister isn’t not going to start pretending that the first he knew about this was last night. We’ve all watched the video of the Prime Minister’s staff, including his personal spokesperson, they knew there was a party, they knew it was against the rules, they knew they couldn’t admit it, and they thought it was funny […] The Prime Minister has been caught red-handed. Why doesn’t he end the investigation right now by just admitting it?”

Johnson insisted events would be “properly investigated” before attacking the Labour party for using the issue for political gain.

He said: “Throughout this pandemic, the leader of the opposition in particular has done nothing but play politics, to try to muddy the waters, to try to confuse the public and cause needless confusion about the guidance.”

Starmer called for all information about the party to be handed over the Met to investigate.

Johnson replied: "Of course we will do that and we will get on with the investigation by the cabinet secretary."