Boris Johnson today insisted he ‘broke no rules’ as Labour lashed out at his ‘lies’ on Downing Street Partygate allegations.
The PM flatly denied that he had personally breached lockdown during the festive season last year – and confirmed that the Cabinet Secretary will consider the latest claims about a Christmas quiz.
The Opposition is demanding Mr Johnson ‘fesses up’ after the latest revelation that he posed questions to staff via Zoom on December 15 2020, saying it is ‘very hard’ to see how the event obeyed the Tier 2 rules in force in London at the time.
Speaking to broadcasters during a visit to a vaccination clinic near Paddington in west London, Mr Johnson said: ‘I can tell you that I certainly broke no rules – the whole thing will be looked into by the Cabinet Secretary, and what I’m focused on, frankly, is the vaccine rollout.’
Pressed if that meant Mr Case’s investigation will include the quiz, Mr Johnson replied: ‘He’s looking at all these things. Is that the thing with the Zoom call? Yeah.’
He said the results would come back ‘as soon as we reasonably can’.
The comments appear to be a subtle shift from last week, when the PM gave a broader response saying he had been assured that ‘no rules have been broken’.
There are suggestions that probe could be completed as soon as this week, with Mr Johnson desperate to draw a line under the issue and focus on the threat from the Omicron variant.
In a welcome boost for the premier, the Met Police have made clear they still do not intend to investigate whether rules were breached in No10 during lockdown.
Boris Johnson (pictured visiting a vaccination centre in Westminster today) is facing demands to face the Commons over ‘lies’ about Downing Street partygate allegations
Health Secretary Sajid Javid indicated this morning that the quiz will be considered in the investigation being conducted by civil service chief Simon Case
Mr Case was already probing claims of a December Christmas party and November staff leaving do at No 10, as well as festive drinks at the Department for Education.
In a round of interviews this morning, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: ‘I saw the photo of that quiz, like anyone else. What I can see is it’s a virtual quiz with the prime minister sitting at his desk.
‘I don’t know all the details. What I can see, it’s a virtual quiz.
‘And Simon Case has been given a broad remit to investigate anything that he thinks… any type of gathering in Downing Street that should be looked at on any particular day he wants to.
‘And so if he wants to look at this he will – that’s going to be a decision for him.
‘It’s not right, I think, for a minister to tell him what he should or should not investigate.’
Downing Street has confirmed Mr Johnson ‘briefly’ attended the ‘virtual’ quiz at the tail end of last year.
An image published by the Sunday Mirror shows the Prime Minister flanked by colleagues, one of whom is draped in tinsel and another wearing a Santa hat, in the No 10 library.
The newspaper quoted a source claiming many staff were huddled by computers in their Downing Street offices, conferring on questions and drinking alcohol while the quiz was taking place.
Tier 2 restrictions that London was under on December 15 stated that there could be no social mixing of households indoors, apart from support bubbles, and a maximum of six people outside.
Official guidance set out that there should not be work lunches or parties ‘where that is a primarily social activity’ and was not exempted for ‘work purposes’.
Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said: ‘Despite repeated denials of parties in Number 10, it has now transpired that there were numerous parties, gatherings and the Prime Minister even took part in a festive quiz.
‘It appears that Boris Johnson lied to the country and broke the law.
‘It is increasingly clear that the Prime Minister presided over a culture of ignoring the rules that he told everyone else to follow. It’s time to fess up.
‘Boris Johnson and the Conservatives really believe it’s one rule for them, another for everyone else.’
Mr Johnson has also faced allegations that he and Carrie were seen flouting coronavirus lockdown rules during a dinner at a London restaurant in October 2020.
The Sun on Sunday quoted eyewitnesses who said Mr Johnson was seen approaching the tables of other guests while not wearing a face covering, and that the couple did not leave the premises until after the 10pm curfew had passed.
At the time, venues in the capital were subject to strict rules which, as well as the curfew, required diners to wear face coverings when moving around and banned different households mixing.
A No 10 spokeswoman said: ‘It is categorically untrue to suggest the PM did not adhere to curfew rules in place at the time.
‘Any small delay would have been for operational security reasons.’
