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| PMQs: Johnson quizzed over lockdown Christmas party claim | PMQs: Johnson quizzed over lockdown Christmas party claim |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Boris Johnson has insisted all Covid rules were followed in Downing Street last Christmas when the country was in lockdown. | Boris Johnson has insisted all Covid rules were followed in Downing Street last Christmas when the country was in lockdown. |
| According to the Mirror newspaper, aides packed into a room for drinks, a Christmas quiz and a Secret Santa. | According to the Mirror newspaper, aides packed into a room for drinks, a Christmas quiz and a Secret Santa. |
| Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused the PM of disregarding the rules he had imposed on the rest of the country. | Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused the PM of disregarding the rules he had imposed on the rest of the country. |
| Earlier, a Number 10 source denied that there were parties in Number 10 in November and December last year. | Earlier, a Number 10 source denied that there were parties in Number 10 in November and December last year. |
| At Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir said: "Does the prime minister really expect the country to believe that while people were banned from seeing their loved ones at Christmas last year, it was fine for him and his friends to throw a boozy party in Downing Street?" | |
| Mr Johnson said "all guidance was followed completely" but did not deny that parties had been held. | Mr Johnson said "all guidance was followed completely" but did not deny that parties had been held. |
| He added: "Can I recommend to (him) that he does the same with his own Christmas party, which is advertised for 15 December, to which unaccountably he's failed to invite the deputy leader." | He added: "Can I recommend to (him) that he does the same with his own Christmas party, which is advertised for 15 December, to which unaccountably he's failed to invite the deputy leader." |
| Lockdown restrictions | |
| According to the Mirror, the official No 10 staff Christmas party was cancelled last year, but an unofficial party, which the PM did not attend, took place on 18 December. | |
| London was placed under Tier 3 lockdown restrictions on 14 December last year, after which time it was illegal to mix indoors with anyone outside your household or support bubble. | |
| The SNP's Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, accused the prime minister of hosting an event that broke lockdown rules. | |
| "The prime minister might be denying it but I've spoken to the Mirror newspaper this morning and they are confirming what happened, and they have legal advice on potential illegality," he said. | |
| "At a time when public health messaging is so vital, how are people possibly expected to trust a prime minister when he thinks it's one rule for him and one rule for everybody else?" | |
| The prime minister said: "He's talking total nonsense. I think he would have been better off, frankly, saying something about the victims of storm Arwen in Scotland." |