Statement on alleged Downing Street Parties
January 12, 2022
The recent revelations about the party in the garden of Number 10 on the 20th May 2020 are deeply disturbing and further undermine public confidence in the judgment of the Prime Minister, who must take full responsibility.
The Prime Minister came to the House of Commons, admitted his involvement in the party and duly apologised. The events of that day will be the subject of an independent investigation and we must of course wait for that investigation to conclude.
Whist this may yet find that the Prime Minister did not break the rules, it is already clear that his assertion that this was a work-related event will not wash with the British public, who at the relevant time were making significant sacrifices.
The fact is, that at a time when people were not allowed to attend the funeral of their loved ones or comfort their dying relatives, when fines were being issued for people meeting for a coffee in the park, Downing Street should not have been holding social events of any sort. I share the frustration and disappointment of the many constituents who have contacted me over this and assure them that I will make this known in holding the Prime Minister to account.
