Boris Johnson has issued a televised apology over the Partygate scandal in an address to the nation as Sue Gray’s damning report attacked “a serious failure” to abide by the “standards expected of the entire British population” during the Covid pandemic.
As he faces calls from his own side to step down, the long-awaited inquiry findings revealed dozens of staff attended a drunken party, planned two weeks beforehand, where red wine was spilled on a wall, and that “winetime Fridays” were regular events.
One individual was sick due to “excessive alcohol consumption” and there was a “minor altercation” between two other partygoers.
Former minister Tobias Ellwood warned the Conservatives were on course to lose the next general election, questioning whether fellow Tory MPs could still defend Mr Johnson’s behaviour over lockdown-busting events, including having initially denied parties took place.
“There were failures of leadership and judgment by different parts of No 10 and the Cabinet Office at different times,” Ms Gray writes.
But the prime minister claimed to have been vindicated, even though he has been fined for attending a birthday party for him in the Cabinet room in June 2020.
However, Mr Johnson said there was no excuse for bad behaviour by workers towards security and cleaning staff, insisting those guilty would be made to apologise.
Mr Johnson urged the public to “move on” from Partygate, as he said that lessons had been learnt from the scandal. He added that he takes “full responsibility” for the law breaking events.
A meeting with the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbenchers scheduled for 5pm, at which he is expected to attempt to calm any rebellion.
PM ‘personally apologised to cleaners and security staff’
The Prime Minister said he had personally apologised to No 10 cleaners and security staff who were subjected to “disrespectful and poor treatment” highlighted in Sue Gray’s report.
Mr Johnson told the news conference: “I was appalled to learn that there have been multiple examples in Sue Gray’s phrase of disrespectful land and poor treatment of cleaning and security personnel.
“I personally apologised to those dedicated members of staff for what happened and I expect anyone who behaved in that way to do the same.”
PM avoids question of pressuring Sue Gray
Mr Johnson swerved the question of whether he tried to pressure Sue Gray not to publish her report.
Shaking his head, he said: “The terms of reference make it absolutely clear that Sue has to publish a report and I think it’s entirely right that she has, and I think that the… I don’t think anybody could reasonably say that reading that report that an awful lot has been swept under the carpet.”
He also avoided questions of what his personal failings were, but added that he bitterly regretted what had happened.
I regret how things went, says PM
Boris Johnson said he bitterly regretted what had happened in the Partygate scandal, which was why his government had changed some of the staff members.
He said he still believed the parties were work events but he appreciated things did not go the way he wanted.
Boris Johnson repeats apology in live press conference
The prime minister has repeated his apology over lockdown-breaking parties, as he addressed the nation on live television, saying he had been humbled by what had happened.
He said he thought it was right to thank staff who were leaving, but that it was unacceptable and “utterly intolerable” to be rude to cleaning staff, and those responsible should apologise.
Johnson to address nation
Boris Johnson is due to hold a press conference soon.
Sue Gray halted Abba party probe
Sue Gray abandoned her investigation into the “Abba party” in Boris Johnson‘s flat despite finding that alcohol was there on the evening Dominic Cummings was forced out of Downing Street.
The senior civil servant found the Prime Minister did attend the mid-lockdown gathering, along with five special advisers but halted her work having only collected “limited” information when the Metropolitan Police began their investigation.
There was no mention in her report of The Winner Takes It All and other Abba songs reportedly heard blaring from the Downing Street residence after the departure of Mr Cummings as chief adviser was announced following a bitter power struggle.
Carrie Johnson, the Prime Minister’s wife, was reportedly at the event in the flat during England’s second national lockdown on November 13 2020.
Ms Gray said a “meeting” was held in the Prime Minister’s residence from “some time after” 6pm to discuss “the handling of the departure” with five special advisers.
She found that Mr Johnson joined the event where “food and alcohol were available” at around 8pm.
But she said she had not long been investigating the evening when Scotland Yard began its criminal investigation.
Boris Johnson ducked questions about his actions during the so-called ‘Abba party’ in Downing Street as he erroneously claimed it had been probed by Sue Gray, reports Kate Devlin:
More Tories will join me in defecting, MP predicts
A Labour MP who defected from the Conservatives suggested that more may cross the floor as a result of the Sue Gray report.
Christian Wakeford said: “Wine-time Friday, karaoke, grown men drinking shots of Apple Sours. How can anyone on the benches opposite honestly describe these as work events?
“Misleading the House is a very serious issue, as the prime minister well knows, but taking the people of this country for fools is far worse.
“Whilst he is busy trying to defend the indefensible, I would like to know how many of my former colleagues does he think will be joining me on these benches after today?”
Boris Johnson replied: “He will find the answers to his questions in the Sue Gray report. I really don’t have anything more to add.”
‘Gaseous Zeppelin of Sir Beer Korma punctured,’ claims PM
The prime minister slated Labour’s Keir Starmer for what he said were double standards because it can be difficult to separate work and leisure time, he claimed.
Referring to Durham police’s investigation into the Labour leader’s having food and drink with staff in lockdown, Mr Johnson said: “After months of his frankly sanctimonious obsession… the great gaseous Zeppelin of his pomposity has been permanently punctured and irretrievably by the revelation that he is himself under investigation by the police… and yet… Sir Beer Korma is currently failing to hold himself to the same high standards that he demanded of me.”
Your Sue Gray questions answered
The Independent’s chief political commentator John Rentoul will answer questions live tomorrow on Partygate.
Submit your question now or when at 1pm tomorrow for the “Ask Me Anything” event, here:
No 10 ‘cesspit of arrogant, entitled, narcissists’
Downing Street has become “a cesspit full of arrogant, entitled, narcissists” under Boris Johnson, according to Labour MP Chris Bryant.
Dismissing the PM’s statement as “baloney”, Mr Bryant said one of the most damning features of the report was the many examples of cleaners and security staff being treated with a lack of respect and poor treatment.
Those people knew what the rules meant, even if Downing Street staff did not.
He asked whether Mr Johnson had no shame that No 10 had become “a cesspit full of arrogant, entitled, narcissists”.
The prime minister said it was disgraceful to be rude to cleaning or security staff and anyone guilty would be disciplined or made to apologise.
