UK PM sorry for 'partygate' but vows to plough on

The report concluded that some of the events should not have been allowed to take place

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday apologised after his government was criticised for "failures of leadership and judgment" in allowing lockdown-breaching parties at his offices.

Johnson's position has been hanging by a thread because of the steady drip of revelations since late last year, but he has in the last week been given a lifeline as police stepped in.

He vowed "to get on with the job" despite widespread political and public anger and calls for him to quit or be forced out.

The police probe meant that senior civil servant Sue Gray was forced to avoid going into detail in a long-awaited report about 16 events held in 2020 and last year, so as not to prejudice the Scotland Yard inquiry.

"Too little thought" had been given about how appropriate boozy events were and would be seen as others stuck to the rules, unable to comfort sick and dying loved ones with Covid.

"Some of the events should not have been allowed to take place. Other events should not have been allowed to develop as they did."

She condemned "excessive" drinking in Downing Street, as well as unwieldy expansion of the prime minister's office in recent years that had blurred lines of accountability.

Johnson's opponents have accused him of misleading parliament by insisting the events at Downing Street were within the rules at the time and were work-related.

On the streets of London, many agreed. "I think he's not fit to be prime minister. I think he should resign," said Sarah, who works for the state-run National Health Service.

In angry exchanges in the House of Commons, Johnson urged all sides to await the Metropolitan Police's own findings.

"He is a man without shame," the former chief prosecutor said, urging Johnson's Conservative cabinet allies to depose him instead of "supporting further misconduct, cover-up and deceit".

They include a cocktail party in May 2020 in the Downing Street garden, as well as Christmas celebrations, and a drink-fuelled get-together before Prince Philip's funeral.

Queen Elizabeth II was subsequently pictured at the funeral, sat alone in the chapel at Windsor Castle, mourning her husband of 73 years.

- Breathing space -

A handful of his own MPs have publicly said they had no confidence in his leadership. More have been expected to join them.

But with Gray's report limited in scope, and the police inquiry potentially lasting months, Johnson has been given an opportunity to regroup his supporters and get back on the front foot.

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