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LABOUR deputy leader Angela Rayner again demanded Boris Johnson’s resignation today following fresh allegations that the Prime Minister lied to Parliament over “partygate.”
Her fresh attack followed Mr Johnson’s former top aide Dominic Cummings claiming that the PM had been warned in advance that the “bring your own booze” party would break Covid rules.
He said that Mr Johnson had been told that the invitation to the gathering on May 20 2020, sent by his principal private secretary Martin Reynolds, “could be problematic.”
Mr Cummings also claimed to be “pretty sure” that the private secretary had also discussed the planned party with Mr Johnson.
According to the former chief adviser, this means that Mr Johnson misled Parliament last Wednesday when he made a statement to the Commons about the boozy lockdown-breaking event.
Two other former Downing Street officials have told reporters that they remembered Mr Cummings telling them on that day that he had advised the Prime Minister not to allow the drinks party to go ahead.
Questioned about the latest allegations during a visit to a north London hospital, Mr Johnson “categorically” denied having lied to Parliament and added: “Nobody said that this was something that was against the rules, that was in breach of Covid rules.”
Ms Rayner said: “Boris Johnson set the rules. He didn’t need anyone to tell him the party he attended broke them.
“If he had any respect for the British people, he would do the decent thing and resign.”
Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab dismissed the latest claims by Mr Cummings.
Mr Raab repeated that Mr Johnson had not misled Parliament, but he acknowledged that if a minister had lied, that would be a breach of the ministerial code and a resigning offence.
Back-bench Conservative MPs continue to raise the pressure on Mr Johnson to resign.
A group of them are reportedly lobbying colleagues to submit letters of no confidence to the 1922 Committee, the Tory body which runs the party’s leadership contests.
A number of Conservative MPs described their inboxes as being “off the scale” with complaints about Mr Johnson after the weekend.
Many local Tories are reported to be calling for Mr Johnson to be replaced before the local elections in May.
