Boris Johnson ‘apologises unreservedly’ over video of staff laughing about Christmas party
The Prime Minister has apologised after a video surfaced of staff joking and laughing about a Christmas party he had repeatedly denied took place.
“Mr Speaker may I begin by saying I understand and share the anger up and down the country at seeing No 10 staff seeming to make light of lockdown measures,” he said.
“And I understand how infuriating it must be to think that the people who have been setting the rules have not been following the rules.
“Because I was also furious to see that clip. And Mr Speaker I apologise unreservedly for the offence that it has caused up and down the country, and I apologise for the impression that it gives.
“But I repeat Mr Speaker that I have been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party and that no Covid rules were broken and that is what I have been rep[eatedly assured.”
He says he has asked the cabinet secretary to establish all the facts and to report back.
Labour Leader Keir Starmer said the apology “raises more questions than answers”, and after a week of denials from No 10 “millions of people now think the prime minister was taking them for fools and they were lied to”.
“Why doesn’t he end the investigation right now by just admitting it?” he asks.
“Last week the Prime Minister said there was no party – now he says there is something to investigate.”
He added that the Christmas party undermined Boris Johnson’s messaging about the new variant.
Boris Johnson said that the Labour leader was trying to “muddy the waters” and “play politics” but that the British public were “not fooled”.
SNP leader Ian Blackford said that the Prime Minister was responsible for losing the trust of the people. “The only right and moral choice left to him is his resignation,” he said.
“People across this island have missed births, missed funerals, missed the opportunity to be at the side of loved ones in their dying moments. This is a moment of moral reckoning. Is this the man to lead these islands when lives are at stake?”
Boris Johnson said that he would “get on with the job” and it was “very sad” that the other parties were trying to “muddy the waters about events or non-events of a year ago”.
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His apology means less than nothing.
Liar liar, pants on fire. Get rid.
The man is a pathological liar incapable of telling the truth. This is the beginning of the end for the most unqualified politician to attain premiership
That Keith bloke has to be the most ineffectual party leader ever!
The SNP are the only real opposition in Westminster!!!
The only reason he is sorry, is that the video came out, and has again exposed him to be the liar he is. He has no remorse or sense of shame about the party taking place, only that he has been exposed.
How can anybody know when Johnson is telling the truth?
We have no basis for comparison.
You may not be able to tell when he telling the truth but you can easily tell when he is lying as his mouth will be moving and there will be words coming out.
He was only furious because he was caught out. No apology for a party that DID happen, because he insists it didn’t. No apology for breaching covid rules, because he insists the party didn’t happen.
He’ll be lying so much, he’ll forget what he has lied about.
Boris Johnson apologised for the video of his staff & spokeswoman Allegra Stratton arrogantly joking about holding a Christmas party held in 2020 against their own lockdown rules, but not the party itself. So this question needs answering. Why then apologise for his staff breaking lockdown rules if no party happened.? More lies & deceit from bumbling Boris. Boris then stated that an inquiry is to be held with his Cabinet Secretary Simon Case leading the investigation into the leaking of the video and possible party that never happened, a man by the way who is reported to have attended… Read more »
lets not forget Strattons connections, political editor for BBC Newsnight and her little stint on ITV with Peston, also married to The Spectator’s political editor, I’m sure it won’t be long before the revolving doors start spinning, These people are serious parasites and nothing will change while they are in the positions they’re in.
As Martin Hammond, (Johnson’s housemaster) wrote to Boris’s dad in 1982:
“Boris sometimes seems affronted when criticised for what amounts to a gross failure of responsibility….. I think he honestly believes that it is churlish of us not to regard him as an exception, one who should be free of the network of obligation which binds everyone else.”
Some things will never change. Why is it that the ‘best’ schools seem to produce so many of the worst of appologies for human beings.
His denial might have more credibility if the party hadn’t taken place in HIS ACTUAL HOUSE!
I have no words to describe how I feel about tory politicians or voters.
Simple really….. Liars…. Idiots.
Blame it on the staff,(YOUR STAFF YOUR ADDRESS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY)exactly like a cowardly snotty schoolboy blaming others Looks like he’s slipping in his own slime I just hope it’s downwards into obscurity taking his callous, heartless, staff with him an hopefully his backstabbing two faced party.
When is a “gathering” not a “gathering”……… When it’s a party.