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| Boris Johnson can't hide from party allegations, says Labour's Angela Rayner | Boris Johnson can't hide from party allegations, says Labour's Angela Rayner |
| (33 minutes later) | |
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| Watch: Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner tells the Commons that Boris Johnson can run but he can't hide | Watch: Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner tells the Commons that Boris Johnson can run but he can't hide |
| Boris Johnson "can run, but can't hide" from allegations he attended lockdown drinks in the Downing Street garden, Labour's Angela Rayner has said. | Boris Johnson "can run, but can't hide" from allegations he attended lockdown drinks in the Downing Street garden, Labour's Angela Rayner has said. |
| Speaking in the Commons, the party's deputy leader demanded answers over the alleged gathering on 20 May 2020. | Speaking in the Commons, the party's deputy leader demanded answers over the alleged gathering on 20 May 2020. |
| The PM did not face the questions directly, with minister Michael Ellis standing in for his boss. | The PM did not face the questions directly, with minister Michael Ellis standing in for his boss. |
| Mr Ellis said "a fair and impartial investigation" had to take place before any conclusions could be made. | Mr Ellis said "a fair and impartial investigation" had to take place before any conclusions could be made. |
| And he added that the inquiry, led by senior civil servant Sue Gray, would be "swift" and the conclusions published for all to see. | And he added that the inquiry, led by senior civil servant Sue Gray, would be "swift" and the conclusions published for all to see. |
| But Mr Ellis warned her probe could be "paused" if the Metropolitan Police - which has said it is in contact with the government over "widespread reporting relating to alleged breaches" of Covid rules - decided to carry out its own investigation. | |
| The list of alleged government lockdown gatherings | The list of alleged government lockdown gatherings |
| What rules would the Downing Street party have broken? | What rules would the Downing Street party have broken? |
| DUP MP in tears as he questions No 10 drinks party | DUP MP in tears as he questions No 10 drinks party |
| SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford called on Conservative MPs to "force [the PM] from office" if he did not "do the decent thing" and resign. | SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford called on Conservative MPs to "force [the PM] from office" if he did not "do the decent thing" and resign. |
| Anthony Mullen, leader of the Sunderland Conservatives, told BBC Radio 4's The World at One: "I can't see how [Mr Johnson] can survive." | Anthony Mullen, leader of the Sunderland Conservatives, told BBC Radio 4's The World at One: "I can't see how [Mr Johnson] can survive." |
| And former Scottish Conservative leader Baroness Davidson tweeted: "Nobody needs an official to tell them if they were at a boozy shindig in their own garden. People are (rightly) furious." | And former Scottish Conservative leader Baroness Davidson tweeted: "Nobody needs an official to tell them if they were at a boozy shindig in their own garden. People are (rightly) furious." |
| On Monday, ITV published a leaked email from the PM's principal private secretary, Martin Reynolds, inviting 100 staff to "socially distanced drinks in the No 10 garden" on 20 May 2020. | On Monday, ITV published a leaked email from the PM's principal private secretary, Martin Reynolds, inviting 100 staff to "socially distanced drinks in the No 10 garden" on 20 May 2020. |
| The invitation for the event, which was organised when strict lockdown rules were still in place, encouraged people to "bring your own booze" and "make the most of the lovely weather". | The invitation for the event, which was organised when strict lockdown rules were still in place, encouraged people to "bring your own booze" and "make the most of the lovely weather". |
| Witnesses told the BBC the PM and his wife had been among about 30 people who attended the gathering. | Witnesses told the BBC the PM and his wife had been among about 30 people who attended the gathering. |
| But Mr Johnson has declined to say whether he was one of them. | But Mr Johnson has declined to say whether he was one of them. |
| The PM's official spokesman also refused to comment on the claims while the investigation was taking place, but he added that the prime minister retained full confidence in Mr Reynolds. | The PM's official spokesman also refused to comment on the claims while the investigation was taking place, but he added that the prime minister retained full confidence in Mr Reynolds. |
| Hannah Brady said her father's death certificate had been signed on the same day the drinks took place | Hannah Brady said her father's death certificate had been signed on the same day the drinks took place |
| There was fury from the opposition benches in the Commons as Labour challenged the government on the allegations. | There was fury from the opposition benches in the Commons as Labour challenged the government on the allegations. |
| But there has been anger from Tory MPs since the story broke as well, with few turning up in the Commons to show support from the government benches. | But there has been anger from Tory MPs since the story broke as well, with few turning up in the Commons to show support from the government benches. |
| One of those who did, Suzanne Webb, said: "The time of the House is better spent at this moment in time, as we recover from this pandemic... debating how we can build back better and level up. That is what my constituents are looking for." | One of those who did, Suzanne Webb, said: "The time of the House is better spent at this moment in time, as we recover from this pandemic... debating how we can build back better and level up. That is what my constituents are looking for." |
| 100 invited to Downing Street lockdown drinks | 100 invited to Downing Street lockdown drinks |
| Laura Kuenssberg analysis: No escape for No 10 | Laura Kuenssberg analysis: No escape for No 10 |
| But earlier, one former minister told the BBC that Mr Johnson "tries to lie his way out of everything", while another said: "Boris is finished." | But earlier, one former minister told the BBC that Mr Johnson "tries to lie his way out of everything", while another said: "Boris is finished." |
| In the Commons, Ms Rayner said it was disappointing that Mr Johnson was not there in person to answer her questions. | In the Commons, Ms Rayner said it was disappointing that Mr Johnson was not there in person to answer her questions. |
| "But his absence speaks volumes as do his smirks on the media. The public has already drawn its own conclusions. He can run, but he can't hide." | "But his absence speaks volumes as do his smirks on the media. The public has already drawn its own conclusions. He can run, but he can't hide." |
| Ms Rayner said there did not need to be an investigation into whether Mr Johnson was at the gathering if he would just reveal the information himself. | Ms Rayner said there did not need to be an investigation into whether Mr Johnson was at the gathering if he would just reveal the information himself. |
| But, she added: "It won't wash to blame this [event] on a few junior civil servants. The prime minister sets the tone." | But, she added: "It won't wash to blame this [event] on a few junior civil servants. The prime minister sets the tone." |
| Boris and Carrie Johnson are alleged to have attended the lockdown drinks gathering in the Downing Street garden | Boris and Carrie Johnson are alleged to have attended the lockdown drinks gathering in the Downing Street garden |
| Other political parties joined her criticism, with the DUP's Jim Shannon brought to tears when speaking of the death of his mother-in-law during the pandemic. | Other political parties joined her criticism, with the DUP's Jim Shannon brought to tears when speaking of the death of his mother-in-law during the pandemic. |
| But the minister, Mr Ellis, said it was not for him to "pass judgement or to pass sentence". | But the minister, Mr Ellis, said it was not for him to "pass judgement or to pass sentence". |
| He added: "The natural order of justice [is] a fair and impartial investigation takes place before there is a judge jury and executioner. That investigation needs to take its natural course in an orderly way." | He added: "The natural order of justice [is] a fair and impartial investigation takes place before there is a judge jury and executioner. That investigation needs to take its natural course in an orderly way." |
| Meanwhile, Hannah Brady, a spokeswoman for the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group, has written to the prime minister, saying he appeared to be treating the issue of the 20 May drinks as "one big joke". | Meanwhile, Hannah Brady, a spokeswoman for the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group, has written to the prime minister, saying he appeared to be treating the issue of the 20 May drinks as "one big joke". |
| The death certificate of her own father had, she added, been signed on the day of the gathering. | The death certificate of her own father had, she added, been signed on the day of the gathering. |
| "I had to stand and watch my grandparents break down over a hole in the ground, terrified that if I went near them, they would catch Covid and die too," Ms Brady wrote. "I call on you now to apologise for that additional hurt caused by your response." | "I had to stand and watch my grandparents break down over a hole in the ground, terrified that if I went near them, they would catch Covid and die too," Ms Brady wrote. "I call on you now to apologise for that additional hurt caused by your response." |
| Did you miss out on attending an important event due to lockdown restrictions in May 2020? Or were you fined for meeting with others during the first lockdown? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Did you miss out on attending an important event due to lockdown restrictions in May 2020? Or were you fined for meeting with others during the first lockdown? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
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